TV

Hank Azaria Says Giving Up The Role Of Apu Would Be “The Right Thing To Do”

"My eyes have been opened."

by Tom Clift  26 April 2018
Apu Hank Azaria

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The Simpsons voice actor Hank Azaria says he’d be willing to give up the role of Apu, telling The Late Show host Stephen Colbert that stepping aside would be “the right thing to do”.

Azaria’s portrayal of Apu is a touchy subject among fans of The Simpsons, particularly Indian and South Asian viewers, many of whom find the character offensive. The show recently took a shot at addressing the controversy on air, and suffice it to say it did not go well.

On Tuesday, Colbert spoke to Azaria about the issue directly, asking him whether he understood why some people were offended.

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“Of course I understand,” replied Azaria. “It’s come to my attention, more and more, especially over the last couple of years, that people in the South Asian community in this country have been fairly upset by the voice and characterisation of Apu.”

“The idea that anybody, young or old, past or present, was bullied or teased based on the character of Apu just really makes me sad,” he continued. “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 marginalise people, is upsetting.”

Azaria went on to say that he had no involvement in the show’s response to the controversy, remarking that he saw it “right around the same time as everybody else”.

Asked what he thought should happen with Apu going forward, Azaria said that he had given the issue “a lot of thought”.

“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,” he said. “In television terms, listening to voices means inclusion in the writers’ room. I really wanna see Indian, South Asian writers in the writers room, not in a token way, but genuinely informing whatever new direction this character may take, including how it is voiced or not voiced.”

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

Azaria’s response was praised on social media, including by comedian Hari Kondabolu, whose documentary, The Problem With Apu, helped highlight the issue many people have with the character.