Public gets shot at Aflac duck job

NEW YORK – Aflac is opening the field to people who want to take a quack at doing the new voice of the insurer’s ever-abrasive duck mascot.

Aflac Inc. will begin accepting submissions today in the search for someone to replace Gilbert Gottfried, who was ousted last week after voicing the duck for more than 10 years because he made insensitive remarks on Twitter about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Rather than hire another celebrity voice right away, Aflac decided solicit submissions from the general public, said Chief Marketing Officer Michael Zuna.

“There’s a lot of undiscovered talent in the U.S.,” Zuna said, citing shows like “American Idol.”

Anyone interested will be able to submit a 30-second audio or video file belting their best version of the Aflac duck’s signature “Aflac” squawk at www.quackaflac.com. Aflac is also posting a job description on Monster.com.