There has been a great deal of backlash surrounding The Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, and the actor who voices the character, Hank Azaria has said he’s willing to step aside from the role.
The Simpsons character Apu came under fire after the release of the documentary The Problem With Apu. Hari Kondabolu created the documentary, and discussed how the character and other characters that played to Indian stereotypes affected the everyday lives of real Indian people.
It was a thoughtful take on a controversial character, and clearly came from the voice of a fan attempting to hold a show they loved to a higher standard. And while the response from the show itself left a lot to be desired, the actor who plays Apu, Hank Azaria, is ready to make positive change when it comes to Apu.
Related: The Simpsons responded to The Problem With Apu and it wasn’t great
Azaria appeared on The Late Show with Steven Colbert, and he addressed the increased criticism that the character has been receiving. Instead of dismissing the criticism as being a modern critique on a character introduced decades ago, Hank Azaria said it was time to start listening to the voices of South Asian individuals and to make necessary changes on The Simpsons. Azaria suggested hiring more South Asian writers, and either transitioning the character of Apu to a South Asian actor or getting rid of him entirely.
.@HankAzaria addresses the controversy surrounding the character ‘Apu’ from @TheSimpsons. #LSSC #Apu #TheSimpsons pic.twitter.com/pkmYgcX4Il
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) April 25, 2018
Of course, it’s not Hank Azaria’s call to change the character of Apu, and it will be interesting to see if Azaria continues to play the character if no changes are made. However, it’s refreshing to hear him not only acknowledge the harm done by the character but to also call for a more inclusive writer’s room and cast to represent South Asian individuals in a more respectful fashion.
We’ll be very interested to see how the show chooses to move forward. However, with the support of the actor voicing Apu himself onboard with making much-needed changes, we hope that The Simpsons re-evaluates how they portray South Asian individuals.