After domestic violence charges against Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland led to him being removed from the series, it’s now been reported that those charges have been dismissed. “This case was dismissed as a result of insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Orange County District Attorney’s office spokesperson Kimberly Edds.
Justin Roiland took to social media to comment on the charges against him being dismissed. “I have always known that these claims were false — and I never had any doubt that this day would come,” Roiland said. “I’m thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I’m still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process. Most of all, I’m disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts.” Roiland added that the charges were based “solely on the word of an embittered ex” who was trying to get him “canceled.” As those allegations led to Roiland being removed from Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites, and resigning from Squanch Games, he admitted that his ex “may have succeeded.”
As for the next step, Justin Roiland said that he’s “determined to move forward and focus both on my creative projects and restoring my good name.” Justin Roiland pled not guilty in 2020 to one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit. Roiland’s attorney, T. Edward Welbourn, gave a statement to Variety: “I commend the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for conducting a thorough review of the facts and deciding to dismiss the case against Justin. I’m thankful justice has prevailed.“
Although the domestic violence charges have been dropped, it’s not clear if Adult Swim or Hulu will try to get Justin Roiland back or if he would even want to return. Reports that came out after his firing claimed that Roiland has had very little creative involvement in Rick & Morty beyond voicing the main characters, and had even stopped showing up to work several seasons ago.