Hank Azaria, the voice of Apu in The Simpsons, apologized to the Indians

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Hank Azaria, voiced by Apu on The Simpsons, apologized to the Indian community for helping to create the role that is considered a racist and offensive stereotype.
Hank Azaria, voiced by Apu on The Simpsons, apologized to the Indian community for helping to create the role that is considered a racist and offensive stereotype.

Hank Azaria, the famous voice actor behind several characters from The Simpsons, has publicly apologized for voicing the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, which he described as an offensive Indian stereotype.

Last year, Azaria announced that she would no longer provide the voice of the Kwik-E-Mart employee, whose heavy accent, Indian culture and Hindu beliefs were used to laugh on the show.

Now it was for more. Azaria, a white American, told the podcast Armchair specialist that he initially had a “blind spot” to the cultural issues surrounding Apu.

“Doing racism, like structural racism in this country, is about blind spots”, He said. ‘I really didn’t know anything. I didn’t think about that, ”he continued.

“And there were very good intentions from all sides and we tried to make a funny and thoughtful character,” the actor apologized.

The controversy surrounding the character came to light in the 2017 documentary The problem with Apu.

“Everything with Apu is like this common joke … and the common joke is that he’s IndianSaid filmmaker Hari Kondabolu in the film.

Apu, of Indian descent, works in a grocery store in the city (Courtesy: Fox Television)
Apu, of Indian descent, works in a grocery store in the city (Courtesy: Fox Television)

“Azaria is a nice and thoughtful person who shows that people are not simply ‘a product of their time’, but that they have the ability to learn and grow,” added Kondabolu on Twitter.

Azaria told the podcast she struggled with feelings of his “Hurt, upset, on the defensive” after the film’s release, but decided to reflect on his point of view rather than respond defensively.

“I didn’t want an instinctive response“He said.I went and learned, read, spoke to many Indian people. I apologize for my part in creating Apu, for participating in it.”He counted.

The show no longer features white actors posing as other races.

Azaria is also known for voicing the characters of Moe Szyslak, Chief Gorgory, the man from the comics, and Carl Carlson, who is black.

Even before the wave of anti-racist protests that has swept the country over the past month, the actor who voiced Apu, Hank Azaria, retired from the series after more than 30 years in the role. EFE / MARIA PEÑA
Even before the wave of anti-racist protests that has swept the country over the past month, the actor who voiced Apu, Hank Azaria, retired from the series after more than 30 years in the role. EFE / MARIA PEÑA

Last year, The Simpsons, which is currently in its 32nd season, announced it would stop using white actors to express non-white characters.

Earlier this year, Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, told BBC Radio that “times have changed” since the show’s broadcast in 1989.

“We try to do better”, He said. “Intolerance and racism are still an incredible problem and it is good to finally go for more equality and representation”, added.

The news predictably sparked social media controversy, with users speaking out for and against Azaria’s decision.

“” Hears! you don’t have to apologize for Apu. Comedy should be free to hold up a mirror to things, even if it’s a distorted mirror sometimes! @ZaheerAbbasAli responded on twitter.

“OMG … I will accept Azaria’s apology unless she comes to my front door and apologizes,” Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) wrote wryly.

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