Madrid, Spain.
Actor Hank Azaria, voicing the character Apu from “The Simpsons” in the original version, has apologized to the Indian community for an interpretation he describes as “practically an insult” by promoting stereotyping.
This merchant’s character has sparked controversy on several occasions, especially after Indian-American comedian Hari Kondabolu’s documentary “The Problem with Apu”, who stated in 2017 that the character was created on the basis of racial prejudice.
A year after she stopped giving voice to the character, Azaria recognized in the podcast of Dax Shepherd’s Armchair Expert that this documentary made him doubt its continuity in the collaboration with the television series.
Although the actor maintains that the character was created without malicious intent, admits that “does not mean there are no real negative consequences.”
For this reason, the actor has confirmed that part of him thinks he should “go to all the Indians of this country (USA) and apologize personally.
Apu’s character has been around for many years television representation only American from the Indian and Hindu Culture And this, added to the success of the cartoon series, has contributed to the worldwide spread of stereotypes.
“This is how you think and represent your people to many people in this country,” Azaria pointed out.
Indian students
The actor remembers a specific moment when he spoke Indian students at your child’s school to get his or her opinion on the character.
He mentioned a conversation with a 17-year-old who hadn’t even seen “The Simpsons‘but he knew what Apu meant.
The own maker of “The SimpsonsMatt Groening, has come to admit that the characters needed a change and is currently being studied to somehow reinvent them.
They have specific plans for the character Apu, because it will come back with a new voice and a new function beyond being the Kwik-E-Mart store manager.
“Intolerance and racism remain an incredible problem and it is good to finally seek more equality and representation,” said Groening.