The Simpsons' Hank Azaria willing to stop voicing Apu after racism storm: 'It just feels like the right thing to do'

‘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’

The Simpsons’ Hank Azaria has addressed in full the current discussion on Apu and his controversial depiction on the show.

Documentary The Problem with Apu brought the issue into the spotlight after exploring the loaded stereotype fuelling the character and its impact on South Asian-Americans: an issue compacted by the fact the Indian character is not voiced by an Indian actor, but by Azaria.

Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Azaria said that he understood fully the issues at hand and that he’s “given this a lot of thought, and as I say my eyes have been opened. 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, how they think about this character, and what their American experience of it has been.

“In television terms, listening to voices means inclusion in the writers’ room. I really want to see Indians, 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.

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

Actor and standup comic Hari Kondabolu, who created The Problem with Apu, took to Twitter to thank Azaria for his words. “I appreciate what you said & how you said it,” he said.

The Simpsons itself less graciously reacted to the controversy in a fourth-wall breaking segment in which Lisa Simpson is seen turning to camera and stating: “Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive, is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”

Kondabolu tweeted in response to the episode: “In The Problem with Apu, I used Apu and The Simpsons as an entry point into a larger conversation about the representation of marginalised groups and why this is important. The Simpsons response tonight is not a jab at me, but at what many of us consider progress.”

Azaria had previously commented on the documentary by stating: “Definitely anybody that was hurt or offended by it, or by any character or vocal performance, it’s really upsetting that it was offensive or hurtful to anybody.”

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