The Simpsons is reportedly set to drop the Indian character of Apu from the show, after it was accused of racial stereotyping. The Simpsons star Hank Azaria made headlines recently when he announced he would no longer be voicing the series’ Indian character Apu. level 2. End of an era! After 30 years as a controversial Indian-American character on "The Simpsons," Hank Azaria has announced he will no longer voice the thickly accented Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. What's the status of Apu's role on 'The Simpsons'? What's the status of Apu's role on 'The Simpsons'? Fox. After the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the Black Lives Matter movement is continuing to be at the forefront of life. Continue this thread level 2. Apu and Hank Azaria. © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. (*) It's the fact that the show is still on the air. Apu will continue to feature in The Simpsons, the show’s creator has confirmed.. Matt Groening made the announcement during Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim over the weekend. The most striking thing about this week's Great Apu Debate isn't that various people like or dislike a '90s cartoon character. The idea that anybody, young or old, past or present, was bullied or teased or worse based on the character of Apu on ‘The Simpsons,’ the voice or any other tropes of the character is distressing,”“And especially in post 9/11 America, the idea that anybody was marginalized based on it or had a hard time was very upsetting to me personally and professionally. At this point, does the fate of Apu really matter? 8 months ago. Nowadays, The Simpsons seems to exist only to sell merchandise and legitimize the mobile app, which is just as ridiculously profitable and exploitative as every other officially-licensed, pay-to-play mobile game. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has black hair and a strong Indian accent, he is voiced by Hank Azaria in the cartoon. Azaria announced in January he would no longer voice Apu. Perhaps he underestimated the sanctity of "The Simpsons" in the comedy world (he's a fan himself, but, as he points out, "you can be critical of the thing and still love the thing"). Throughout the last year, as the controversy surrounding the problematic Simpsons character Apu has heated up, the show producers have struggled with how to address the situation. If the Apu controversy taught us anything, it’s that The Simpsons, in its current form, has nothing left to say, absolutely nothing to contribute to the discussion, other than another dull Twitter debate. Earlier this week, Adi Shankar, a vocal critic of Apu’s portrayl, said he had been told the show wouldn’t be continuing with Apu’s storyline in future episodes. He said the executives were "very sympathetic and supportive" when he told them he was "uncomfortable" voicing Apu. sibarraz Chicken Chaser / Self-requested ban. The awesome Apu Nahasapeemapetilon from The Simpsons cursors! After 30 years as a controversial Indian-American character on "The Simpsons," Hank Azaria has announced he will no longer voice the thickly accented Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The Simpsons response tonight is not a jab at me, but at what many of us consider progress. Oct 27, 2017 12,328. Apu is a naturalized US citizen, and holds a Ph.D. in computer science. Posted by. In response to increasing speculation that Apu was to be quietly written off the show, Matt Groening recently confirmed that the character isn’t going anywhere. “Simpsons” executive producer Al Jean weighed in Sunday. In “The Problem with Apu,” I used Apu & The Simpsons as an entry point into a larger conversation about the representation of marginalized groups & why this is important. I'm fascinated by all forms of storytelling; movies, television, mythology, fairy tales, and urban legends. By Yohana Dest a By Meredith Nardino. By Matt Miller. We watch new Simpsons episodes and then talk about them on Wednesday with our comic book guy, and we always laugh about it (and reminisce about earlier episodes), but I never see that on the internet. Series creator Matt Groening has said that Apu would still be on “The Simpsons,” according to SlashFilm, which suggested that the show could cast an Indian actor with an authentic voice. The Simpsons Still Doesn’t Understand the Problem with Apu The long-running series issued an incredibly lukewarm response to critics of the stereotypical Indian character. The Simpsons showrunner, Al Jean, has admitted that while the controversial figure of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is still being kept on the show, the character is still a "work in progress.". One of the original writers of The Simpsons has responded to claims that Apu will be written out of the show. The character, who is a convenience store owner with a comedic nature, can be seen as a racist stereotype. 3. He’s not some stereotype who runs the mini mart he’s an actual character. So Apu will probably remain in the show, but he’ll just sound a little different. — Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018. But it’s not clear what they’re going to do with him - even Kondabolu doesn’t seem entirely sure what the solution to the Apu problem would entail, suggesting that Apu should simply become wealthier: “The idea that Apu is still working at the Kwik-E-Mart versus owning these places seems weird. Continue this thread level 2. The Simpsons became an echo of itself long ago, but the show started sparking headlines after comedian Hari Kondabolu created a documentary outlining The Problem With Apu. He is the owner of a convenience store Kwik-E-Mart in Springfield. The Simpsons Series 28 Episode 6 In other news, Run On episode 3: Release date and time for Netflix’s latest K-drama explained. As an Indian I don't need Apu's VA to matches his race. so hypothetically, if an indian person voiced apu the exact same way, is it still a racist stereotype? However, while creator Matt Groening defended the character of Apu, producer Adi Shankar has confirmed that The Simpsons will no longer feature Apu. Azaria went on to say that he still loves The Simpsons … Apu, a clerk of the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store, had not appeared on the show for months, but it was still unclear if Fox would be bringing the character back with another actor providing the voice. Hank Azaria, who has voiced Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons for 30 years, said he will no longer be playing him, but it's still unclear what will happen to the animated character who has for years been seen as a racist stereotype. It has just been announced that the US animated comedy series The Simpsons which is broadcast on the Fox Network will no longer use white actors to voice people of colour. Television is an area that has been under fire for both its historic and current use of racist stereotypes, with many shows being taken down from streaming sites in support of the movement. Make him wealthy. Much Apu About Something Much Apu About Something is the twelfth episode of Season 27. — Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018. For lots of South Asian viewers of "The Simpsons," Apu — who is voiced by white actor Hank Azaria — is a painful stereotype. "All we know there is I won't be doing the voice anymore, unless there's some way to transition it or something," Azaria told SlashFilm in an interview Friday. The skit mocks Trump’s hairstyle and jokes about his relationship to Vladimir Putin (first time I’ve heard that). Just complaining about the new seasons (and I wonder if people even watch them, or are just basing it on the one season 19 episode they saw once and hated) 1 Synopsis 2 Full Story 3 Videos 4 References Sanjay passes his stake in the Kwik-E-Mart to his millennial son, Jay, who turns it into a hip, health food market against Apu’s insistence on tradition. ‘Apu’ can still survive, though. In his mind, he was courting the danger of being "hacky" by rehashing it. And yet part of the reason Apu has remained a central character to "The Simpsons" is that, over many seasons, he has been provided with backstories and human flaws. The producers’ official statement said nothing about the character of Apu in future shows, so it remains unknown. level 2. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Getty Images). The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American scripted prime-time television series with respect to seasons and number of episodes. FOX/YouTube; Shutterstock. Banned. That fact inspired comedian Hari Kondabolu to make the documentary "The Problem With Apu," which aired on TruTV last fall (and is still streaming in full on TruTV's website and elsewhere). However, while creator Matt Groening defended the character of Apu, producer Adi Shankar has confirmed that The Simpsons will no longer feature Apu. Apu, a clerk of the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store, had not appeared on the show for months, but it was still unclear if Fox would be bringing the character back with another actor providing the voice. The show has faced lots of criticism over the years for its Bengal-born character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The Simpsons became an echo of itself long ago, but the show started sparking headlines after comedian Hari Kondabolu created a documentary outlining The Problem With Apu… Archived. He says the Apu problem is a well-worn topic in his inner circle. Speaking to Slashfilm at TCA, … Can These Riveting Depictions Of World Events By Children Overcome Adult Complacency And Cynicism? The show’s golden years (seasons 1-10), are permanently entwined in pop culture, inspiring beautiful fanart and strange memes (this excellent YouTube video goes into further detail on how the show’s memory is still thriving through its fandom). For lots of South Asian viewers of "The Simpsons," Apu — who is voiced by white actor Hank Azaria — is a painful stereotype. Comment deleted by user 2 years ago More than 1 child. However, after Hank Azaria’s departure it is likely that the character will simply be re-voiced by a new actor that is of Indian descent. The idea that anybody, young or old, past or present, was bullied or teased or worse based on the character of Apu on ‘The Simpsons,’ the voice or any other tropes of the character is distressing,”“And especially in post 9/11 America, the idea that anybody was marginalized based on it or had a hard time was very upsetting to me personally and professionally. Apu will continue to feature in The Simpsons, the show’s creator has confirmed.. Matt Groening made the announcement during Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim over the weekend. Apu drew scrutiny with many recently voicing concerns about him being a … There have been rumors about what The Simpsons would do about Apu, but none were substantiated. Close. Make him a mogul. The producers could simply hire an Indian actor to voice the character. Apu was born in India but soon moved to America, where he brilliantly passed the citizenship exam. But the rant went viral, eventually making its way to Azaria. Apu will not be written out of The Simpsons following the controversy surrounding the character and whether he perpetuates racial stereotypes … Producer Adi Shankar came out and said the show was dropping Apu as a result, only for Jean to refute this last … Make him somebody who’s actually had things work out for them—an immigrant who’s successful.”. Groening told /Film Azaria never mentioned wanting to stop doing the caricature voice while he was promoting his Netflix series Disenchantment. The show recently highlighted its own irrelevance and inability to connect with pop culture with a misguided attempt at political commentary, attempting to make fun of Donald Trump with a musical skit. The Simpsons died long ago, and the fact that it still can attract controversy is almost impressive. Apu is devoted to his wife and eight children, even if he’s too busy to always show it. Oct 29, 2018 Getty Images. A representation of "Apu," fictional owner of the Kwik-E-Mart from the long-running televsion ... [+] cartoon show "The Simpsons." Many have argued that this is not acceptable, and Hank Azaria stepped down from the role that he has played since 1990 earlier this year. In an interview with ABC News last year, Kondabolu commented on … There's speculation that could happen, after "Castlevania" executive producer and show runner Adi Shankar recently told IndieWire "The Simpsons" has … cartoon show "The Simpsons." He graduated first in his class of seven million at 'Caltech' – Calcutta Technical Institute – going on to earn his doctorate at the Springfield Heights Institute of Technology (S.H.I.T. Give us Raj the accountant or Karan the starbucks barista. Few consider Apu hideously offensive, but the character likely wouldn’t have been conceived today. ). But many are arguing that The Simpsons must do more than simply changing some voices to diversify the shows, as there is a certain lack of people of colour within the series. Apu is no more, or, at the very least, the Apu we knew is gone. On Friday, the show, which has been on the air for more than 30 years, announced it would be taking wider action in how its other nonwhite characters are voiced. In other news, Run On episode 3: Release date and time for Netflix’s latest K-drama explained. Many people are advocating for the world to become a more diverse place, cutting out any forms of direct and indirect racism. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. For years, he's tried to come to terms with his own fandom of The Simpsons and the deeply stereotypical character Apu, who, for many years was the most popular South Asian character on TV. I'm sure most are familiar with the controversy surrounding the character of Apu that's been going the last couple years. The producers released a statement on Friday, simply saying: “Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” the producers said in a short statement.”. The documentary sparked fierce debate, which only intensified after the Apu controversy was acknowledged within the show and promptly dismissed, sparking anger and fan backlash. In an interview with ABC News last year, Kondabolu commented on … “The Simpsons” started an effort to make this change in recent years, with Kevin Michael Richardson of … On Friday, the show, which has been on the air for more than 30 years, announced it would be taking wider action in how its other nonwhite characters are voiced. I wish him the very best but he does not speak for our show. Run On episode 3: Release date and time for Netflix’s latest K-drama explained, {{#media.media_details}} Last week, the TV producer Adi Shankar told IndieWire that “multiple sources” at “ The Simpsons ” said they were dropping the Indian-American character Apu, voiced by Hank Azaria. In “The Problem with Apu,” I used Apu & The Simpsons as an entry point into a larger conversation about the representation of marginalized groups & why this is important. It also features an appearance from “The Squad,” the four progessive congresswomen who frequently clash with Trump, and fails to say a single thing about any of them, or make any comment on Trump that hasn’t been repeated countless times in the last two years. Kondabolu notes that while Apu was one of the few representations of Indian people on TV during the show's early years, time has not been kind to the character, Apu now coming across as a distasteful stereotype. u/RGRDBB2X. Ever since Hari Kondabolu's 2017 documentary, The Problem With Apu, the iconic Kwik-E-Mart owner has been widely viewed as a source of controversy.Kondabolu's documentary explores the culture surrounding Apu, the Indian immigrant stereotypes Apu enforced, and the effect it had on the children of Indian immigrants … Fans realize the problems with Apu and still love The Simpsons. Like Apu, The Simpsons is really showing its age, and to be fair, thirty seasons is more than enough to kill any pop culture juggernaut. {{#media.focal_point}}. Frankly, Apu’s problematic presence was the most interesting discussion surrounding the show in years. January 17, 2020. Hank Azaria confirmed that he’ll be stepping down from his role as the voice of Apu on The Simpsons after more than 30 years. Apu is no more, or, at the very least, the Apu we knew is gone. "The Problem With Apu" is a nuanced look at "The Simpsons"' approach to race that explores all the … It appears that Hank Azaria has made a final decision about his future with The Simpsons character Apu. He said the executives were "very sympathetic and supportive" when he told them he was "uncomfortable" voicing Apu. Apu is voiced by white actor Hank Azaria … Apu drew scrutiny with many recently voicing concerns about him being a racial stereotype. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I loved the show, I loved it so much that I put up with that part of every show where Apu was there and I had to grimace and I … Hank Azaria says he will no longer voice the Indian immigrant convenience store owner Apu on "The Simpsons." The Underwhelming Response To ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ And ‘Tenet’ Highlights The Difference Between Streaming And Cinema. We want more Indian characters that don't play to outdated stereotypes. By Renaldo Matadeen Mar 13, 2019 The Simpsons showrunner, Al Jean, has admitted that while the controversial figure of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is still being kept on the show, the character is still a "work in progress." NEW YORK - JULY 2: Mandy Lui (C) of Toronto poses with larger than life ‘Apu’ from the television cartoon show ‘The Simpsons’ at a 7-11 store on 345 W. 42nd Street, converted into a Kwik-E-Mart to promote ‘The Simpsons Movie’ opening next month, July 2, 2007 in New York City. New content will be added above the current area of focus upon selection The Simpsons have just announced a major change to the filming of future episodes, and many fans are wondering – will popular character Apu will remain in the show? The show has been suffering a slow death; finally taking it off the air might be considered a mercy killing. I write about film, television, pop culture, and other fun stuff. Series creator Matt Groening has said that Apu would still be on “The Simpsons,” according to SlashFilm, which suggested that the show could cast an Indian actor with an authentic voice. outside of the writers making wholesale changes, to what is already one of the more fleshed out side characters, i don't see how an indian person doing the same voice wouldn't also be a racist stereotype . These days, racial controversy is the only way the show can draw attention, like an aging comedian whose Netflix special is titled something like “Triggered,” “Trigger Warning,” or “Warning: Trigger Warning.”. Hank Azaria Confirms That He Will No Longer Voice the Character Apu on ‘The Simpsons’ After 30 Years. Still, there goes the best-damned employee a convenience store ever had.” Apu Nahasapeemapetilon[src] “Thank you! Apu is voiced by white actor Hank Azaria who puts on a voice to make himself sound of Indian descent. Almost every diehard Simpsons fan out there is most likely familiar with Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, but if you aren't, let me fill you in: On the show, Apu is the owner of the local convenience store, Kwik-E-Mart.He immigrated to Springfield from India many years ago, and has a strong Indian accent. “(Referring to Homer) He slept, he stole, he was rude to the customers. Apu had the most growth and depth on the show, he’s a pillar of the Community,loves his job, loves his country,volunteer firefighter great friends with Paul McCartney and a major lady’s man just to name a few things. The most striking thing about this week's Great Apu Debate isn't that various people like or dislike a '90s cartoon character. Would phase out Apu, but at what many of us consider.! Death ; finally taking it off the air might be considered a mercy killing we want more Indian that. He still found her attractive, he is voiced by Hank Azaria says he will longer... 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