Matt Groening confirms Apu gained’t be written off The Simpsons
Since final fall, the way forward for The Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has been up within the air because of mounting controversy over the present’s racial stereotyping. Now, creator Matt Groening has formally confirmed that our favourite Kwik-E-Mart worker gained’t be written out of the collection.
Groening made the announcement throughout Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim over the weekend. In line with Selection, when requested about Apu’s standing going ahead, he assured that the character was right here to say. “Sure. We love Apu,” he reportedly mentioned. “We’re pleased with Apu.”
The racial debate surrounding Apu reached a boiling level following Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary The Downside with Apu, whereas the rumors relating to Apu’s exit got here final October through YouTube character and Castlevania producer Adi Shankar. In an interview for IndieWire, he mentioned The Simpsons deliberate to “drop the Apu character” altogether “simply to keep away from the controversy.”
(Learn: The High 30 Episodes of The Simpsons)
Al Jean, the long-running TV present’s govt producer, responded on the time by saying Shankar did “not converse for our present.” Nevertheless, he supplied no definitive clarification relating to Apu’s standing on the collection.
Hank Azaria, who voices Apu in addition to different Simpsons characters, chimed into the dialog by saying he’d be “completely pleased and prepared to step apart,” including, “listening to voices means inclusion within the author’s room. I actually need to see Indians, South Asian writers within the room. Not in a token manner, however genuinely informing no matter new path this character could take. Together with how it’s voiced, or not voiced.”
The 31st season of The Simpsons premieres September 29th. An early have a look at the season was revealed final week and featured a parody of Donald Trump.
