In the early bloom of springtime, Disney made an exciting announcement: not only were they renewing The Simpsons for another season, but they had secured enough seasons for Springfield’s most illustrious family – Homer, Marge, Bart, Maggie, and Lisa – to reach their fortieth season. For decades, many of the original voice actors have breathed life into these animated characters, yet Hank Azaria chose to step away from one specific role in the episode titled “The Day The World Went To Pot.” This character has remained silent since then, and more recently, Azaria has addressed the controversy surrounding his portrayal and his decision to bid farewell to the Kwik-E-Mart.
In the latest episode of “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” Azaria openly discussed his deliberation over no longer voicing Apu. Rather than a quick, casual evaluation, it turned into a significant reflection, taking about two to three years. During this time, everyone involved in “The Simpsons” was uncertain about the character’s future. The silence from Apu led to a thoughtful exploration of whether the character was offensive, if Hollywood has a history of such portrayals, and if in some way, Azaria himself might be contributing to that tradition.
Apu No More
It’s apparent that Azaria doesn’t plan to manage the Kwik-E-Mart again for quite some time, if at all. He expressed this during his recent podcast, stating, “Initially, I thought, ‘I’ll explore the possibility and then return to voicing the character.’ But upon reflection, I found myself saying, ‘I understand, but I’m going to keep doing this.’ It surprised me when I arrived at the decision, ‘No, I believe I’m contributing to a problem here.’
The actor who provides the voice for The Simpsons’ character further clarified that incidents of hate crimes frequently referred to as Apu’s name played a significant role in his decision. He explained, “The primary concern was when hate crimes were committed against people of South Asian descent, they were often just called ‘Apu,’ which became a derogatory term when convenience store workers were stabbed, shot, or robbed, especially those in stereotypical professions like taxi drivers. They were not only targeted physically but also verbally called ‘Apu.’
A significant moment in the actor’s career was sparked by a documentary called “The Problem With Apu,” produced by comedian Hari Kondabolu. In this documentary, Kondabolu discusses his fondness for “The Simpsons” and the challenges he faces with the character of Apu. During an interview, Azaria acknowledged the documentary and its creator, stating that even though Kondabolu may appear American or sound American, he is perceived as Indian and will encounter criticism regarding Apu if someone chooses to direct it towards him. Azaria continued, “The criticism against Apu isn’t just because it’s a cartoon; it’s also due to the stereotyping and other underlying issues that have real-world consequences for people of color in this country. Although Apu may not seem significant, it serves as a lens through which we can view more substantial matters.
Currently, there’s been no news about who will replace Apu as the voice actor, and the owner of the Kwik-E-Mart in Springfield is still undecided at this moment.
Via Pablo Torres Finds Out
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2025-04-09 16:41