Posted on 01/17/2020 3:08:48 PM PST by EdnaMode
Hank Azaria says he will no longer be voicing the controversial character Apu on The Simpsons. Azaria made the comment in an interview with Slashfilm at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour following a panel for his IFC show Brockmire.
“All we know there is I won’t be doing the voice anymore, unless there’s some way to transition it or something,” Azaria told the publication. “We all made the decision together… We all agreed on it. We all feel like it’s the right thing and good about it.”
The show’s producer 20th Century Fox TV would not comment on Azaria’s remarks when reached by Deadline.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a recurring character in the hit animated series, is an Indian immigrant proprietor who runs the Kwik-E-Mart, a popular convenience store in Springfield. The character has been controversial with accusations that the portrayal is a racist caricature.
In April 2018, Azaria told Stephen Colbert on Late Show, he’s “willing and happy” to step aside as the voice of Apu on The Simpsons, or to help transition the character into “something new,” calling it “the right thing to do, for me.”
Stay tuned.
It used to be my favorite program.
It has probably been 15 years since I have watched it.
It just died. The should have gone ahead and buried it.
So “step aside” and let someone else do his voice. He’s existed since the beginning - unless you kill him off he’s part of the story. Maybe he should get shot by some inner city “teens” if you want to make a statement.
"The Simpsons" has been on for 30 years. 30 friggin' years. Now suddenly one of their main recurring characters is "controversial". The woke scold snowflakes will kill all comedy.
I thought he had made this decision over a year ago.
If the character is that popular, they’ll find someone else to do voice overs. I can’t blame him. Who needs the aggravation? Now, the same people will be saying Indian characters are ‘disturbingly underrepresented’ on The Simpsons.
“I highly endorse this product or event” —Krusty
Paging Peter Sellers
Who voices the character in foreign language broadcasts?
Does he have an accent?
Prolly sucks to be on the losing team.
I always thought Apu was one of the best supporting characters. If you want to be offended by any character on the Simpsons, pick one. They’re all pretty outrageous...even goody-two-shoes Lisa.
Hank will also return the millions and millions and millions of dollars he has received.
As a hetero, white male I demand the Simpsons be cancelled because of the negative stereotypes of ALL THE WHITE MALES are portrayed a evil, greedy, stupid, hypocritical, bumbling murderous....
Oh wait... That only works if you are a minority or female.
Never mind..
Come on Apu! We all know you can’t go into a Kwik-E Mart unless you have a slight Indian accent.
Hmm. Now where have I heard that before? :) *thinking*
‘So “step aside” and let someone else do his voice.’
Exactly. They changed Homer’s voice early on, so why not Apu?
I always thought Apu was a good role model.
Owned his own business, was pro-gun.
Only white liberals were offended, certainly not any of the Desi that I know.
That’s already happened several times.
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