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Hank Azaria Says He’d Step Aside From Playing Apu on The Simpsons (VIDEO)

Hank Azaria Says He'd Step Aside From Playing Apu on The Simpsons
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April 25th, 2018 – Hank Azaria gave a much different answer than his bosses when asked about the controversy with his portrayal of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons. The caucasian actor, who has voiced the Indian immigrant character since season one of the show, appeared as a guest on last night’s The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and said he’d be willing to step aside after his eyes had been opened to the negative impacts of the characterization.

“I’m perfectly willing and happy to step aside or help transition it into something new,” he told Colbert. “I really hope that’s what ‘The Simpsons’ does and it not only makes sense, but it just feels like the right thing to do to me.”

The creators and writers of the show found themselves in even hotter water earlier this month when they attempted to address the growing problem during an episode. Colbert references the scene where Lisa shares the line “Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?” while glancing at a photo of Apu.

Azaria said he had nothing to do with framing that response and only learned about it when the episode aired. He went on to say that he doesn’t share in the opinion that people’s feelings should just be shrugged off because the jokes happened at a time when offensive material was more widely accepted.

“The idea that anybody, young or old, past or present was bullied or teased based on the character of Apu, it just really makes me sad,” he said. “It was certainly not my intention. I wanted to spread laughter and joy with this character and the idea that it’s brought pain and suffering in any way, that it was used to marginalize people, it’s upsetting – genuinely.”

Standup comedian and filmmaker Hari Kondabolu, whose documentary The Problem With Apu has been credited for continuing to highlight issues with Western culture’s depiction of minorities in film and television, thanked Azaria for his words.

Kondabolu spoke out about The Simpsons response earlier in the month, too.

Kondabolu wasn’t alone in thanking Azaria and comparing his response to that of The Simpsons’ writers and creators.

There were some who felt Azaria was caving to political correctness and not remembering that the show constantly pokes fun at stereotypes.

Ultimately, though, Azaria believes that steps have to be taken to correct the portrayal of Apu.

“I think the most important thing is we have to listen to South Asian people, Indian people in this country, when they talk about what they feel and how they think about this character, and what their American experience of it has been. And as you know, in television terms, listening to voices means inclusion in the writers’ room. I really want to see Indian, South Asian writers in the room, not in a token way but, genuinely informing whatever new direction this character may take, including how it is voiced or not voiced.”

Were you happy with Hank Azaria’s response to the Apu controversy? What are the next steps for the creators of The Simpsons?

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