Hank Azaria wants to say sorry. The Hollywood actor says that he feels as though he should apologize for being the voice of Apu on the long-running series The Simpsons.
In fact, he wants to apologize to every single Indian person in the United States for voicing the controversial character. But at the same time, Hank is keeping the royalties he made off the show. Here’s what you need to know.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a Indian American character with a thick accent, operates the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store in the fictional town of Springfield.
Hank Azaria Is Apologizing For Voicing Apu On The Simpsons – But Is Keeping His Royalties
Speaking To Dax Shepard and Monica Padman during the Armchair Expert podcast, Hank says only regrets that the change took so long coming.
“I’ve had a date with destiny with this thing for about 31 years,” the actor remarks on the episode, before going on to personally apologize to Monica Padman — the daughter of Indian immigrants — for portraying a character who has had such a negative impact on her community for so long.
The Simpsons actor also recalled chatting to some of his son’s Indian classmates several years ago, including a 17-year-old who had “never even seen ‘The Simpsons’ but knows what Apu means.”
“It’s practically a slur at this point,” he said. “All he knows is that is how his people are thought of and represented to many people in this country.”
“I know you weren’t asking for that, but it’s important. I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels like I need to go around to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do when it comes up.”
Showrunners of The Simpsons announced last year that the series would no longer use white actors to voice nonwhite characters.
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