‘The Simpsons’ Apu 'To Be Axed' Following Racial Stereotyping Accusations

The Kwik-E-Mart owner has left Springfield for good, according to the show's producer.
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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.

Fox

‘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.

Wow. “Politically Incorrect?” That’s the takeaway from my movie & the discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad. https://t.co/lYFH5LguEJ

— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018

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.

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