After several years discussing whether Apu's character in The Simpsons is racist or not, the actor who dubbed him, Hank Azaria, stops interpreting him.

"I will not make his voice anymore, unless there is some kind of transition," Azaria confessed to the specialized website SlashFilm. "What they are going to do with the character is their decision. It depends on them and they still haven't resolved it. The only thing we have agreed is that I will not make their voice anymore, " he added.

The focus of the debate is Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a Springfield neighbor from India and owner of the famous Badulaque. For many, The Simpsons is a racist series for its stereotypical and caricatural representation of the character , with an exaggerated accent and performed by an American and white actor, the aforementioned Azaria, who also gives voice in the original version to Moe, the Wiggum boss or the Professor Frink In 2017 the comic Hari Kondabolu, of Indian descent, addressed the controversy in his documentary The problem with Apu , extending the conversation to social networks.

The series itself addressed the issue in the chapter, No Good Read Goes Unpunished , issued on April 8, 2018 by Fox in the United States. In the scene, Marge wants to read Lisa a story she loved when she was young, but realizes that it is full of stereotypes. He decides to edit it, but Lisa complains because creating this already evolved character also erases his emotional journey and the meaning of the book. When Marge asks what to do, Lisa responds by looking at the camera: "It's hard to say. Something that started decades ago and was applauded and harmless is now politically incorrect . What can you do?" And at that moment Lisa looks at a photograph of Apu. "Some things will be resolved later," Marge replies then. And Lisa finishes: "If they are resolved."

Subsequently, the Simpsons creator, Matt Groening, commented on the controversy saying: "I am proud of what we do in the series. And I think we live a moment in our culture in which people love to pretend they feel offended ."

Azaria, for his part, said he was willing to stop playing the character. "I think the most important thing is to listen to the Indians and their experience with this. I am perfectly willing to move away. I think it's the right thing," said the actor, according to Variety . "The idea of ​​someone suffering harassment because of Apu really makes me sad. It certainly wasn't my intention. I wanted to bring joy and laughter to people," he added.

At the end of 2018 it was published that Apu would be completely eliminated from The Simpsons , although the news was subsequently denied by Groening. For now, Azaria will stop giving her a voice. It remains to be seen if another actor, perhaps of Asian origin, will take his place or if the character will end up disappearing from the series, which after being renewed for two more seasons, will continue his broadcasts until 2021 with seasons 31 and 32, and more than 700 episodes

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