Actor and comedian Jay Johnston has been effectively banned from returning as Jimmy Pesto on the hit animated sitcom Bob's Burgers owing to his alleged involvement in the Capitol riot that took place earlier this year.
According to The Daily Beast, top staff members will no longer allow Johnston to return to the role, with some members of the production describing it as a ban. However, neither Fox or Disney are intent on announcing the matter. Neither companies provided comment on the matter.
Johnston voiced Pesto on 43 episodes of Bob's Burgers over its first 11 seasons. Pesto is the owner of Jimmy Pesto's Pizzeria and a business rival to the titular Bob. He is the opposite of Bob is every way-- a successful businessman but a neglectful father and sexual deviant. The character was introduced in the Season 1 episode "Sheesh! Cab, Bob?" and made his last appearance in the Season 11 episode "Bridge Over Troubled Rudy." He has not appeared in Season 12, which premiered in September and has released 10 episodes thus far.
The actor, who has appeared in Anchorman, Arrested Development and more; allegedly appeared in at least two photos released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purposes of finding and detaining those involved in the Capitol riot. The figure can be seen unmasked in one image and masked in another.
The Capitol Hill attack took place on Jan. 6 and began with former President Donald Trump's allegations that the 2020 election was rife with voter fraud. Trump's supporters gathered outside of the Capitol building at rally and eventually overwhelmed the police stationed there. Members of the crowd then attempted to storm the building, allegedly inspired by Trump's own words, seemingly urging members of the public, as well as former Vice President Mike Pence, to prevent Congress from counting the votes and validating the election results, which saw President Joe Biden into office. Aside from the damages inflicted on the Capitol building and its facilities, the attack resulted in five deaths, over 140 injured police officers and over 700 people being charged with crimes.
Johnston's peers have described him as a Trump supporter, but his involvement in the Capitol Hill attack has not been officially confirmed and the actor has not issued a response to the allegations or to his ban from Bob's Burgers.
Source: The Daily Beast