Posted on 03/22/2021 2:10:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The Simpsons creator Matt Groening has said that he is “proud” of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon following criticism of the character.
Original voice actor Hank Azaria stepped down from voicing the role last year, which came after a 2018 documentary called The Problem With Apu argued that the role was a racist stereotype.
Speaking about the criticism of the character and whether he would change anything, Groening has now told USA Today: “I think the Apu stories are fantastic, and he’s one of the most nuanced characters on a silly two-dimensional cartoon show.
“So, yeah, I’m proud of Apu. [Pause.] I’m trying not to open up another chasm of criticism, but it doesn’t matter what I say. I’ll get it anyway.”
The show creator also confirmed that they were yet to recast Apu, though said of their plans going forward: “We’ve got plans for Apu, but we have to see if we can make the stories work.
“We’re working on something kind of ambitious. That’s all I can say,” he added.
The Simpsons also announced last year that non-white characters would no longer be voiced by white actors on the show, Groening explaining that the decision was “not [his] idea”.
“But I’m fine with it,” he added. “Who can be against diversity? So it’s great. However, I will just say that the actors were not hired to play specific characters. They were hired to do whatever characters we thought of.
“To me, the amazing thing is seeing all our brilliant actors who can do multiple voices, do multiple voices. That’s part of the fun of animation, however, to be more inclusive and hire more people, I’m completely in favor of that.”
Explaining his decision to step away from the role of Apu, Azaria said last year: “Once I realised that that was the way this character was thought of, I just didn’t want to participate in it anymore. It just didn’t feel right.”
He added: “I didn’t want to knee-jerk drop it if I didn’t feel that was right, nor did I want to stubbornly keep doing it if that wasn’t right. But then I started thinking, if that character were the only representation of Jewish people in American culture for 20 years, which was the case with Apu, I might not love that.”
So stupid.
I like Jews on the Simpsons. Sure they are stereotypes, but that’s a cartoon. It’s funny and clever (generally).
Matt has a very friendly way of saying, “Go F*** Yourself”.
My opinion of the Blue Raja has been lowered CONSIDERABLY!
I am dumbstruck!
I know actors live in their own little self-important worlds but words fail me.
and for your viewing pleasure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnUjyr95ZJw
Finally,
Matt Groening comes off much more down to Earth in this report thank Mr. Azaria, in my opinion.
What kind of name is Apu Nahasapeemapetilon it sounds like some name you would see on a medicine bottle?.
So I’m not French, but I speak French. If I speak English with a French accent, I’m a bad person? If I speak French with a Parisian accent, am I appropriate Parisian culture? I don’t get how these people twist themselves into knots over this stuff. It defies logic, but they somehow are capable of making it make sense to themselves.
I’m glad he’s not being Squishee about this...
Cmon Matt - where’s all that liberal chest beating you did “speaking truth to oppression and Republican evils?”
Suddenly can’t speak truth to power as communist oppression overtakes the country?
They’ll come for you first
Groening ends each of his shows with a long liberal anti-conservative (often anti-Trump diatribe. You have to pause the recording to read it, but if you do, you will never see him the same way again.
Take a poll of every Indian in America and see if they give a crap about Apu being voiced by a white man. I’d guess the “yes” vote would amount to about 5 people.
Only white liberals care about these things. They want to tell all minorities what they should think about everything.
Need to bring in Pepe Le Pew and teh Cat in the Hat.. that would be a great Simpson episode.
They’ve already had Homer as, “The Fat in the Hat.”
I am proud of Apu. too, when I sent the new story of Apu ending his Simpsons career to my sons, that’s when I first realized they were woke. They said the Apu character must go. I was astonished.
Imagine an actor that is acting. Pretending to be something he’s not for a role on tv. Fake controversy.
Commie matt was on the lolita express.
What was their reasoning?
Stopped watching many years ago.
Apu owns his own business and loves America.
Liberals hate that and that is why they wanted him gone.
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