After years of saying he was done, actor Hank Azaria definitively confirmed to the New York Times that he’ll not voice Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the character on The Simpsons he has voiced for the reason that present began in 1989. Lately, Apu has turn into a topic of controversy, with the 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu making the case that the comfort store-owning, stereotypically accented immigrant character is a racist depiction of Indian individuals created by white individuals.
Comic and documentarian Hari Kondabolu and different critics have suggested that the present change Apu by recasting his position with an actor of Indian descent (Azaria is of Sephardic Jewish descent), giving him a brand new job, and/or creating his youngsters into full characters. As a substitute, Simpsons producers responded by basically writing Apu out of the present. He has not had a talking line since 2017. And now that Azaria has confirmed he won’t voice the character once more, it appears possible that Apu won’t ever be heard from once more.
This isn’t what Apu’s critics need. “Silencing Apu is a step sideways,” Castlevania govt producer Adi Shankar, who has been a vocal critic of The Simpsons‘ therapy of Apu, informed The Hollywood Reporter. “It would not undo the injury, handle the injury, or profit the present’s ‘creativity.’ It simply removes one other brown face from TV.”
As a substitute, Shankar thinks Apu ought to get a spin-off that may have the ability to take care of this dialog head-on. “We’re arguing over racial constructs, this can be a good alternative to deconstruct it, to dissolve it, and convey our species collectively,” Shankar stated.
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Kondabolu has additionally stated that it was by no means his intention to get Apu off the present, and that he hopes the present figures out a greater manner to make use of him. “If Hank Azaria is certainly not doing the voice of Apu, I do hope they hold the character & let a really gifted writing workers do one thing fascinating with him. If to not higher the present, then to not less than spare me some demise threats,” Kondabolu tweeted in January. “My documentary The Downside with Apu was not made to eliminate a dated cartoon character, however to debate race, illustration & my neighborhood (which I like very a lot). It was additionally about how one can love one thing (just like the Simpsons) & nonetheless be important about elements of it (Apu).”
Creator Matt Groening has stated that The Simpsons has no plans to recast Apu, and showrunner Al Jean has previously said that Shankar doesn’t work for The Simpsons and doesn’t communicate for the present. And most lately, producers haven’t stated something substantial about Apu’s future both manner, telling the New York Times “Apu is beloved worldwide. We love him too. Keep tuned.”
The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8/7c on Fox. It is obtainable to stream on Disney+.
Apu, The Simpsons