Kermit gets the chop

2 minute read  |  July 23, 2017

Steve Whitmire took over voicing the iconic character from creator Jim Henson in 1990, but a series of “disrespectful” actions caused Disney to part ways with the performer and hand the role to fellow puppeteer Matt Vogel.

Whitmire has been, understandably, upset over the incident citing his refusal to break important character traits as one of the key reasons he was dismissed, although Disney describes it as years of unacceptable business conduct which soured their working relationship.

Since the story broke, readers have been vocal in their anger over Disney’s decision, but is the multi-billion-dollar company in the right on this one?

It’s not easy being green

While many on the outside will look at Disney turning their back on a loyal member of the team as despicable, it does appear that they gave the employee numerous opportunities to temper his behaviour through performance related feedback.

Whitmire is said to have taken umbrage with one script where Kermit is speaking to his nephew, Robin, and lies about his breakup with Miss Piggy (I know, try and keep up). Whitmire pushed back against the script and described Kermit as:

“Too compassionate to lie to him to spare his feelings”

Studio executives disagreed with his stance and the pages of cast notes he sent to the writers.

How to handle disruptive employees

As an employer, it is important to reward loyal members of the team, but not at the expense of everyone else. Disney have a responsibility to all their staff, not just certain high profile individuals.

Despite the backlash from fans, Disney approached the situation well, offering regular feedback on Whitmire’s performance, providing opportunity for him to adapt his approach to certain situations. The termination of his contract seemed to be a last resort for Disney.

While Disney gave the employee a number of years to change his approach, not every company will have that freedom. Granted, there would have been special circumstances for the timescale, namely the employee’s high profile and skillset, remember that no matter how good an employee may be at their role, no one is irreplaceable, regardless of what Beyoncé says!

If you find your business suffering at the hands of an unruly employee and need guidance and advice on how to handle the situation, contact us today. Contract termination should be a last resort, but it’s also a valid one. Don’t leave it too long.

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