Audience Not Laughing At The Simpsons’ Response To ‘The Problem With Apu’
- Funny
- Offensive
“D’oh!”
April 9th, 2018 – The Simpsons, a satirical look at a suburban family in a nebulous part of Middle America has generated billions in merchandising and legions of rabid fans thanks to a stable of iconic comic characters. A fan-favorite, convenience store owner, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, while a popular fixture in the fictional town of Springfield, has been met with a growing chorus of criticism from inside the entertainment industry.
Successful stand-up comedian, actor and filmmaker, Hari Kondabolu, himself the son of Indian immigrants has been the most vocal critic of the character’s heavy accent and problematic depiction. The outspoken comic wrote a documentary aptly titled “The Problem with Apu,” wherein Kondabolu talks about stereotypes and representation with performers and thinkers of South Asian descent.
Hank Azaria, a Caucasian actor who has voiced the character for the entire duration of the series, had this to say in response to the expanding controversy:
“I think the documentary made some really interesting points and gave us a lot of things to think about, and we really are thinking about it.”
The debate ratcheted up when the show made a more than passing reference to the uproar over Apu in a scene during the most recent episode saying, in effect, about the matter:
“Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”
The response from Twitter ranged from “NBD” to “WTF” as many users felt the show’s take on the issue was petty and flawed. Al Jean, the long-time showrunner and head writer, waded into the muddy waters by retweeting a few commenters who felt the anger was much Apu about nothing.
.@TheSimpsons New Simpsons in five minutes. Twitter explosion in act three.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 8, 2018
Respectfully Hank won an emmy for voicing the character in 1998. Only 20 years ago.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 9, 2018
no, I’m just saying Lisa’s statement was factual
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 9, 2018
Kondabolu himself expressed his disappointment for what’s been described as the tone-deafness of the scripted response, tweeting to his followers:
“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.”
More than a few echoed his online disappointment, some even considering the stumble a final nail in the coffin for the once-razor sharp social satire.
The Simpsons, 1989 – 2018 #RIP ? https://t.co/FLTsUwFBsQ
— Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
I think the fact that they put this “argument” in the mouth of Lisa’s character, the character who usually champions the underdogs and is supposed to be the most thoughtful and liberal, is what makes this the most ridiculous (as in worthy of ridicule) and toothless response.
— Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
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
They should and could have done an entire episode with Apu responding to @harikondabolu‘s movie. They wouldn’t have to agree with him but they missed a huge opportunity to add in more layers and be topical. Instead, they went the lazy route and did this. https://t.co/ciUq39A4t6
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) April 9, 2018
Next year’s 30th season will give The Simpsons the most produced episodes in the history of scripted television.
One thought on “Audience Not Laughing At The Simpsons’ Response To ‘The Problem With Apu’”