The Simpsons have finally responded to the criticisms of their portrayal of the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, and the response left a lot to be desired.
When comedian Hari Kondabolu’s documentary The Problem With Apu came out, many saw it as a fan keeping a show they loved accountable and pushing it to do better. After all, the show first aired back in 1989, so it makes sense that some of the humor and the characters would need to evolve.
And while the documentary was widely praised, it didn’t elicit any comment from the creators of The Simpsons. However, in the most recent episode, “No Good Read Goes Unpunished,” the show addressed the controversy. Well, they sort of sub-tweeted the controversy, anyway.
As Variety reports, the episode used Lisa Simpson as the primary mouthpiece to speak to the issues brought up in Kondabolu’s documentary. Lisa turns to the camera and says, “Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”
The character then turns to her nightstand where an autographed picture of Apu is sitting, with the phrase “Don’t have a cow!” written on it. The scene continues with Marge Simpson saying, “Some things will be dealt with at a later date,” to which Lisa responds, “If at all.”
It is a disappointing response to such a thoughtful discussion on The Simpsons’ portrayal of an Indian man. Understandably, Kondabolu was frustrated to see the show chalk the entire controversy of Apu up to something no longer being “politically correct.”
Wow. “Politically Incorrect?” That’s the takeaway from my movie & the discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad. https://t.co/lYFH5LguEJ
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018
Additionally, as Kondabolu explains on Twitter, for The Simpsons to essentially shrug and dismiss the criticism as nothing more than a symptom of the rise of “political correctness” attempts to shut down the larger conversation of representation in Hollywood.
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. The Simpsons response tonight is not a jab at me, but at what many of us consider progress.
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018
It’s a disappointing response from a show that many of us grew up loving. However, it only serves to remind us all that the conversation of representation in Hollywood is incredibly important, and that we still have so much more work to do.