General / Off-Topic The Simpsons Apu Controversy: Actor Explains Why He Will No Longer Voice The Character

[Manticore]

Around one year ago, Azaria met with The Simpsons bosses Al Jean, James L. Brooks, and Matt Groening to tell them he no longer wanted to voice Apu. He said the executives were "very sympathetic and supportive" when he told them he was "uncomfortable" voicing Apu.
Azaria went on to say that he still loves The Simpsons and he hopes to continue to be a part of it for a long time to come. Azaria also voices Moe, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Cletus, Professor Frink, the Sea Captain, Superintendent Chalmers, Disco Stu, and Duffman, among others.

The Simpsons Apu Controversy: Hank Azaria Explains Why He Will No Longer Voice The Character

The veteran voice actor says he initially bristled at controversy but he eventually decided "it just didn't feel right" to continue.

www.gamespot.com

I'm a total Simpsons fan and have been since they started on the Tracey Ullman show..... I actually find Azaria's decision slightly weird as all the characters on the show are stereotypes of sorts.

 

[Para Handy]

That character's name always grated with me, it seemed awful that he should be called "a poo"...

 

[lysan]

But he got no problem with the other characters? Sorry but to me he is just woke tool and i actually stopped watching the Simpsons a few years back.

 

[Chaparral]

OK, The police officer is a "pig", the rich guy is "evil", girls are smart, boys are stupid, and the Sherri and Terri speak their own language, because twins do that right?

I've got an idea, lets make all of the characters grey with no features and make all of the voices the same.

Go draw that on your circle of paper in your bubble wrapped life.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

indeed.... and whilst it is not a direct comparison (because unlike Isaac Hayes on South park it seems toys are not being thrown out of the pram over it) it does remind me of it a little bit.
Southpark took the rip out of everything...... and that was all fine and dandy until they dared to joke about Scientology.

 

[Ezren]

All the ridiculous stereotypes in that show but that's the one that's offensive, I guess.

Haven't much cared for the Simpsons for years now, anyway.

 

[jasonbarron]

I'm built like Homer Simpson irl.

 

[Vasea Azure]

I've got an idea, lets make all of the characters grey with no features and make all of the voices the same.

Thats the safe way of doing things nowaday so there is no chance of controversy/twitter outrage ya know. And generally speaking the final form suffers because of it.

 

[Leper Messiah]

OMG, the luvvy liberal TV/Movie lot are losing their brains. Would this decision go the other way? Of course not as the "R" word is one direction only it seems. Still it's consistant with this mental world where "White Chicks" is ok but if a white actor blacks up for any reason it's a heinous crime.

 

[Ca$hback]

I always felt uncomfortable about the voice from the beginning along with many other portrayals that seemed to qualify as racist, from various media, to myself as a child and I remember wondering why does this or that get a pass. On one hand if its popular people say you have no sense of humor, on the other you have people who feed off being offended because they're bitter at all kinds of things, combative and want an excuse. Those who make genuine grievances tend to have their thoughts organized for proper discourse. It's one SJW victory that I do support.

 

[Chaparral]

I always felt uncomfortable about the voice from the beginning along with many other portrayals that seemed to qualify as racist, from various media, to myself as a child and I remember wondering why does this or that get a pass. On one hand if its popular people say you have no sense of humor, on the other you have people who feed off being offended because they're bitter at all kinds of things, combative and want an excuse. Those who make genuine grievances tend to have their thoughts organized for proper discourse. It's one SJW victory that I do support.

So it is never funny to make fun of human differences in any context. Nice.

 

[Ca$hback]

So it is never funny to make fun of human differences in any context. Nice.

Read your own reply, figure out which words you're putting in my mouth and ask yourself if you're even worth engaging.

 

[jasonbarron]

I always felt uncomfortable about the voice from the beginning along with many other portrayals that seemed to qualify as racist, from various media, to myself as a child and I remember wondering why does this or that get a pass. On one hand if its popular people say you have no sense of humor, on the other you have people who feed off being offended because they're bitter at all kinds of things, combative and want an excuse. Those who make genuine grievances tend to have their thoughts organized for proper discourse. It's one SJW victory that I do support.

As Danicus pointed out: the show is riddled with cliches and derogatory stereotypes. If you're singling this character out as racist, like the voice actor is doing, then you yourself are in danger of becoming a sjw cliche. Not saying that's what your position is, but it really seems like that.

 

[Demascus]

So it is never funny to make fun of human differences in any context. Nice.

Unless your white..... Or christian..... Or both. Double standards are the best.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

I really think its silly how people get worked up over sterotypes.

I'm from Yorkshire and this still cracks me up

I see no difference between this and Apu's portrail in the Simpsons.

 

[lysan]

We can make fun of rednecks, that’s ok, but if we make fun of someone who is a bit dark in the skin color it’s bad.

reminds me of a time right after the fall of the Berlin Wall, I visited a East German city, everything was grey, no colors, nothing same same everything.

are we heading in that direction?

 

[[VR] Mad Life Crisis]

So a cartoon based upon stereotypes has a problem with a character for being a stereotype. Okay.

Too many safe spaces. People are losing the ability to distinguish humour from straight talk. Soon people will have to carry smileys in their pockets.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

I really think its silly how people get worked up over sterotypes.

I'm from Yorkshire and this still cracks me up

I see no difference between this and Apu's portrail in the Simpsons.

lol.......

I wonder how comedies such as Come Fly With Me would be received if they were made now? (and that was not even that long ago)

(that said I think i know people who would consider this a genuine documentary)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCk6fSQ21rY

 

[[VR] Mad Life Crisis]

(that said I think i know people who would consider this a genuine documentary)

Look no further than Twitter.

 

[Leper Messiah]

Can't see much of a "future" for the Apu character now, no white actor will touch it now.....he'll have to be voiced by an Indian actor, but who would touch a character that is a stereotype of their culture?