The long-running animated comedy series ‘The Simpsons’ is preparing to drop the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the Indian-American owner of the ‘Kwik-E-Mart’ due to political correctness.
This became an issue when comedian Hari Kondabolu made a documentary film called “The Problem With Apu” which was released last year.
Many people have pointed out that dozens of characters on the Simpsons are stereotypes and that it’s part of the point and the charm, but Apu is on his way out.
Lakshmi Gandhi reports at NBC News:
‘The Simpsons’ reportedly dropping Apu amid debate over characterAfter a year of controversy surrounding the character of Apu, the hit animated show ‘The Simpsons’ may soon be dropping the character from the show.The impact and lasting legacy of the fictional Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (voiced by Hank Azaria), has been sharply debated since the debut of comedian Hari Kondabolu’s documentary “The Problem With Apu” in November 2017, which examined the stereotypes about Indian Americans that Apu embodied. The documentary featured several South Asian celebrities and newsmakers, including comedian Aparna Nancherla and actor Kal Penn, as they recalled the way Apu made them reflect on their own identities.Social media began buzzing on Friday when IndieWire published an interview with film producer Adi Shankar, who told the site that he had heard from several people close to “The Simpsons” that Apu would soon be dropped from the animated show…“I’ve verified from multiple sources now: They’re going to drop the Apu character altogether,” Shankar told IndieWire. “They aren’t going to make a big deal out of it, or anything like that, but they’ll drop him altogether just to avoid the controversy.”
Apu has always been one of my favorite characters, not only for his humor, but for his dedication to working at the Kwik-E-Mart. Here’s a great moment:
Some people, including folks from India or of Indian ancestry, think this move is silly:
Pradheep J. Shanker, a doctor with a great Twitter account, wrote the following at National Review back in April:
Why the Apu Simpsons Controversy Bothers Me as an Indian AmericanThe most recent shallow and silly controversy to erupt in our nation’s culture wars is apparently . . . the racial insensitivity of The Simpsons’ portrayal of our favorite Indian American, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.You may be forgiven if you didn’t even realize there was a controversy. In fact, in last week’s Simpsons episode that inflamed the ongoing fight over the character, I am willing to bet the vast majority of viewers missed the apparent slight to the social-justice warriors fighting to get fairness for the Indian cartoon character…I think, as an Indian American, that what bothers me most about this entire new episode in our continual culture war is that a few like-minded, left-wing Indians are trying to dictate how Indian Americans view American society. The truth about Indian Americans? We are doing fine. We are currently the richest, most educated minority in America. We litter the halls of academia, medicine, and even Hollywood now. Our voices are heard in the White House, the United Nations, Congress, and state houses across America. If you want to pick a minority that has suffered from media biases, the last one I would pick is Indian Americans.
Social justice warrior culture strikes again. They won’t be satisfied until everyone is as miserable as they are.
Featured image via YouTube.
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