'Simpsons' Star Harry Shearer Says Contract Holdout Was Not A Publicity Stunt; Actor Wanted Freedom To Do Other Projects

Apparently, Harry Shearer, much like the uber-rich Mr. Burns -- one of the over 20 characters the actor voices of Fox's "The Simpsons" -- does not need any more money. Shearer spoke to the U.K.'s The Guardian newspaper Tuesday to assure fans that his months-long contract holdout debacle with "The Simpsons" was not about getting a higher rate of pay for his work.

“All I can say is, it wasn’t a stunt,” the actor and comedian told the newspaper. “There were real issues that had to be resolved and they were.”

Shearer has not elaborated too much on those alleged issues, but he did take to Twitter when the contract feud began in early May. There he implied that Fox's new contracts, which other "Simpsons" principal cast members, including Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Hank Azaria, signed, did not allow enough freedom for Shearer to be able to pursue other projects outside of the show. He became the cast's lone holdout.

Shearer told the Guardian that the ability to work on things outside of "The Simpsons" is vital to his relationship with fans.

"The real danger to me in working in this business is if you become tired of or contemptuous of the audience, it shows. If you give the audience a bunch of different things, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the reason [they remember you],” said the 71-year old actor. “I’m lucky that I can walk down the street and maybe one person will recognize me from 'The Simpsons' and another person with recognize me from 'Spinal Tap,' and it’s always surprising.”

Luckily, the feud was settled in July when Shearer and "The Simpsons" and Shearer were able to agree to terms. The actor signed on to voice his many roles, including Mr. Burns, Smithers, Ned Flanders and Principal Skinners, for at least another four years.