Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is reportedly set to be written out of ‘The Simpsons’ following accusations the character is a racial stereotype.
Last year, the documentary ‘The Problem With Apu’, made by comedian Hari Kondabolu, explored the “one-dimensional” Kwik-E Mart worker through interviews with famous Indian and Indian-American actors about racial-stereotyping and whether they found Apu offensive.
‘The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening defended Apu, but producer Adi Shankar has now seemingly confirmed that the long-running animated show will no longer feature the shopkeeper.
He told IndieWire: “I’ve verified from multiple sources now: They’re going to drop the Apu character altogether. 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.”
He added: “If you are a show about cultural commentary and you are too afraid to comment on the culture, especially when it’s a component of the culture you had a hand in creating, then you are a show about cowardice.
“It’s not a step forward, or step backwards, it’s just a massive step sideways.”
The Apu controversy was addressed in an episode of ‘The Simpsons’ aired earlier this year.
In ‘No Good Read Goes Unpunished’, which aired in April, Lisa said to camera: “Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”, before looking at a picture of Apu. Marge adds: “Some things will be dealt with at a later date”, with Lisa replying: “If at all.”
In May this year Matt Groening dismissed the controversy admitting to feeling like people were upset for no reason.
He told USA Today: “I’m proud of what we do on the show. And I think it’s a time in our culture where people love to pretend they’re offended.”
When asked for further comment on the way the subject was recently addressed on the show, Matt added simply: “We’ll let the show speak for itself.”
Meanwhile, Hank Azaria - who has provided the voice of Apu for almost 30 years - said he would be willing to “step aside” and allow an Indian actor to play the character while also calling for more South Asian representation in the ‘Simpsons’ writers’ room.