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The Simpsons Actor Hank Azaria Wants to Apologize to Every Single Indian Person For Apu

April 13, 2021 | Posted by Ashish
The Simpsons Apu The Simpsons Apu

Hank Azaria recently told The Armchair Expert Podcast (h/t The Hollywood Reporter) that he sometimes feels the need to personally apologize to every single Indian person in the United States for voicing Apu on The Simpsons.

“I really do apologize,” Azaria said. “It’s important. I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do.”

Azaria added that Apu is “practically a slur at this point.” The character of Apu has come under fire in recent years for its racially stereotypical behavior, and because a Caucasian actor voiced the Indian character.

Azaria shared a story about talking about Apu to a 17-year-old Indian student at his son’s school

“I was speaking at my son’s school, I was talking to the Indian kids there because I wanted to get their input,” Azaria said. “A 17-year-old … he’s never even seen The Simpsons but knows what Apu means. It’s practically a slur at this point. All he knows is that is how his people are thought of and represented to many people in this country.”

He said the boy, with “tears in his eyes,” asked him to tell Hollywood writers that what they do has ramifications on people’s lives.

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Hank Azaria, The Simpsons, Ashish