Hank Azaria was going to keep playing apu on ‘the simpsons’ until he found out he was being used as a racist slur – ryan

It is now eight years since Hank Azaria

stepped away from voicing his controversial The Simpsons

Character of apu, but the conversation around why he stopped playing the character – and why he almost didnnt – continues to be a fascinating insight into the way racism is viewed and handled in the entertainment industry and by the public. Speaking on the Pablo Torre Finds Out Podcast, the Incredible Actor, Who Continues to Voice Many Characters on The Simpsonsexplained that there are still still people who don’t understand why he cannot voice apu.

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On the surface, there is a strange contradiction around depictions of race, gender, sexuality and pretty much anything that is not straight and white in the world. White Actors cannot provide voices for black, asian, or indian character, but they can “put on” voices that mimic European accents without any push back. Straight actors playing queer Roles are often criticized publicly for taking away jobs for queer actors. It is a very long list. Azaria was one of those people who didnt really see an issue with playing an indian character, or playing – as per the example he notes – an italian character. However, it was researching into the cultural impact of apu that made him realize the terrible byproduct of the character that he had no really considered.

“That voice was based on a performance from a movie called the party in the mid-60s where (Peter Sellers) played an indian guy named Hrundi V. Bakshi in Brownface. What’s the differentce between inspector clouseeau, a silly french voice, or doctor strangelove, Voice, and Hrundi V. Bakshi, a rather silly indian voice?

Honestly, at first, I thought let me look into this, and then I’ll go back to do the voice, and say I understand, but i’m going to keep doing this. And I was surprised that I came down on ‘no, actually, I think I am participating in a harm here.’ ”

Hank Azaria Discovered Apu’s Name Was Being Used As A Slur

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rnymxm1thq

While there were a lot of conversations back in 2017 about whether azaria should be “forced” out of his role as apu, in the end, when the actor looked deeper into the way the world views apu, he found a disturbing issue that he had not really contacted: Slur Against Southern Asian People. He continued:

“Well look, I’m not a hero, by the way. I got dragged to this, okay? And I could not get out of it because I had this professional public decision to make. There were a few things that were linchpin moments in that decision. Perpetrated Against Southern Asian People, A Lot of Times they were just called apu; Was not great.

“There’s all this other stereotyping and things that have teeth in them that affect people of Color in this country. So, while apu might not be the most important thing in the world, it’s a window into something quite important.”

Since 2017, there have been many changes to voice acting roles, which were previously not looked in quite the same way as on-screen roles. While not everyone agrees with the decisions that were made – if is usually the case – the fact that we are still talking about it proves that the issue is one that warranted a conversation that was long overdue.

Source: Pablo torre finds out podcast

The Simpsons

Release date: December 17, 1989
Network: Fox
Showrunner: Al jean
Directors: David Silverman, Jim Reardon, Mark Kirkland
Writers: Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, Sam Simon

Cast

Franchise (s): The Simpsons