‘The Simpsons’ Responds to ‘The Problem With Apu’

“The Simpsons” is under fire after the show’s offhanded response regarding the controversy over the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. Last year a documentary was released on TruTV titled “The Problem With Apu.” The documentary addressed the fact that the character of Apu is a racial stereotype of South Asian Americans, and how the portrayal of the character has affected how people treat South Asian Americans in the real world. The documentary even has a scene with actor Aziz Ansari saying how once a man asked him and his father where the nearest Quick-E-Mart was.

On Sunday’s episode of “The Simpsons” titled “No Good Read Goes Unpunished,” there is a scene where Marge is reading Lisa a children’s book, but it has been changed from its original format so as to not be as controversial. The book wraps up very quickly and doesn’t have much a story with it, prompting Lisa to say, “something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?” The shot then pans over to a photo of Apu on Lisa’s nightstand. Marge then says, “some things will be dealt with at a later date,” with Lisa responding, “if at all.”

The scene has created a lot of controversy from fans and critiques of the show alike. The creator of “The Problem With Apu” was insulted at the fact that all the show seemed to get out of his documentary was that Apu was politically incorrect, as seen in the Tweets below.

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 “The Problem with Apu,” I used Apu & The Simpsons as an entry point into a larger conversation about the representation of marginalized groups & why this is important. The Simpsons response tonight is not a jab at me, but at what many of us consider progress.

— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018

Other’s have criticized the show’s usage of Lisa to portray this controversial message, as she is normally the more forward-thinking character of the show. Comedia W. Kamau Bell was especially angered at the show’s use of Lisa, and it’s flippant response to the documentary.

I think the fact that they put this “argument” in the mouth of Lisa’s character, the character who usually champions the underdogs and is supposed to be the most thoughtful and liberal, is what makes this the most ridiculous (as in worthy of ridicule) and toothless response.

— Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018

The “argument” the episode makes is basically things used to better before political correctness when nobody cared about all these groups. It ignores the facts that ALL THESE GROUPS ALWAYS CARED ABOUT ALL THESE GROUPS. But these groups’ complaints weren’t respected/supported.

— Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018

The voice actor of Apu, Hank Azaria has recognized the backlash towards his character in the past, saying “I think the documentary made some really interesting points and gave us a lot of things to think about and we really are thinking about it,” in an interview with TMZ back in December.

“The Simpsons” doesn’t seem to have responded to the public uproar over last night’s episode yet, and it’ll be interesting to see what the future of the character of Apu will be. The full clip from last night’s episode can be viewed below.

#TheSimpsons completely toothless response to @harikondabolu #TheProblemWithApu about the racist character Apu:

“Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect… What can you do?” pic.twitter.com/Bj7qE2FXWN

— Soham (@soham_burger) April 9, 2018