Hank Azariais elaborating on his decision to step away from voicingthe character of ApuonThe Simpsons.
“Once I realized that that was the way this character was thought of, I just didn’t want to participate in it anymore,” Azaria, 55, told the outlet. “It just didn’t feel right.”
Controversy has surrounded the character since the release of a 2017 documentary calledThe Problem with Apu, in which writer Hari Kondabolu argued Apuperpetuates racial stereotypesthrough mannerisms and an exaggerated accent. Apu has been a character on the Fox television series since 1990.
Gary Gershoff/WireImage; FOX
“What happened with this character is a window into an important issue,” Azaria said. “It’s a good way to start the conversation. I can be accountable and try to make up for it as best I can.”
Azaria also shared that he drew inspiration for Apu from Blake Edwards’ 1968 comedy filmThe Party, in which lead actor Peter Sellers applies blackface to play an Indian actor.
“That represents a real blind spot I had,” Azaria admitted. “There I am, joyfully basing a character on what was already considered quite upsetting.”
In a statement toNYT,The Simpsons’producers said they granted Azaria’s wish to depart the series but did not reveal what that means for Apu on the show.
“Apu is beloved worldwide. We love him too. Stay tuned,” the statement said.
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The Simpsonsaddressed the controversy surrounding Apu on the show itself, during a 2018 episode that featured a scene of Marge reading a favorite childhood book with daughter Lisa. However, she suddenly found the story about a tyrannical slaveowner much more racist than she remembered and tried to edit it to fit modern standards of political correctness.
“Well, what am I supposed to do?” Marge asked.
“It’s hard to say. Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?” Lisa responded, looking directly at the camera before the shot zoomed in on a photo of Apu with the message, “Don’t have a cow.”
“Some things will be dealt with at a later date,” Marge said before Lisa added, “If at all.”
Fox
The responsedrew even more criticism. However, Azaria said in April 2018 on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that he had “nothing to do with the writing or voicing” of the scene.
“I think that if anybody came away from that segment feeling that they should lighten up or take a joke better or grow a thicker skin … that’s certainly not the way I feel about it,” he continued. “That’s definitely not the message that I want to send out.”
source: people.com
