{"id":382643,"date":"2018-10-27T19:50:55","date_gmt":"2018-10-27T18:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/the-simpsons-creators-criticized-after-apu-is-axed-over-stereotyping-claims-rt-us-news\/"},"modified":"2018-10-27T19:50:55","modified_gmt":"2018-10-27T18:50:55","slug":"the-simpsons-creators-criticized-after-apu-is-axed-over-stereotyping-claims-rt-us-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/the-simpsons-creators-criticized-after-apu-is-axed-over-stereotyping-claims-rt-us-news\/","title":{"rendered":"The Simpsons creators criticized after Apu is axed over stereotyping claims \u2014 RT US News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The creators of the hit cartoon \u2018The Simpsons\u2019 have reportedly cut Apu Nahasapeemapetilon from any future episodes following claims that the long-running character depicts Indian and Asian stereotypes. <\/p>\n

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Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu, who is voiced by white actor Hank Azaria, first appeared in \u2018The Telltale Head\u2019 episode \u00a0in 1990. However this year the character came under fire following the documentary, \u2018The Problem with Apu\u2019.<\/p>\n

The controversy prompted Azaria to say that he is willing to step aside from the character if producers wanted to hire a more appropriate voice actor. He also called for an Indian or Asian writer to decipher how best to proceed with the issue.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Racist stereotype or PC gone mad? \u2018Apu\u2019 actor\u2019s offer reignites Simpsons debate (POLL)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Simpsons producer Adi Shankar said he attempted to save the character following the fallout by crowdsourcing a script to tackle the \u2018Apu Problem\u2019. Shankar even claims to have found the \u201cperfect script<\/em>\u201d to give a funny and realistic portrayal of Indians in America. But his efforts were in vain as ultimately it was decided to quietly remove Apu from Springfield altogether.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve verified from multiple sources now: They\u2019re going to drop the Apu character altogether<\/em>,\u201d Shankar said to IndieWire<\/a>. \u201cThey aren\u2019t going to make a big deal out of it, or anything like that, but they\u2019ll drop him altogether just to avoid the controversy<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shankar said the decision to back down completely is a bad one, and sets a dangerous precedent for the show going forward: \u201cIt\u2019s not a step forward, or step backwards, it\u2019s just a massive step sideways<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sorry. This is dumb.<\/p>\n

The Simpsons were build off of comedy stereotypes. Apu had wonderful storylines built around him\/his family that I remember to this day, this is dumb censoring at its highest<\/p>\n

If Apu is “racist” or “insensitive”, then cut three quarters of the damn cast too. https:\/\/t.co\/2lwy7Fj48s<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 TRAFON (@RiseFallNick) October 27, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Giving in to the crazy mob. Weak. Apu, like every other Simpsons character, was a stereotype but he was also positively portrayed… hardworking, family man, embrace American ideals while observing his own culture. He is the model immigrant… unlike groundskeeper Willie. https:\/\/t.co\/cGc7i49bZS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) October 26, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cIf you are a show about cultural commentary and you are too afraid to comment on the culture, especially when it\u2019s a component of the culture you had a hand in creating, then you are a show about cowardice<\/em>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter having read all these wonderful scripts, I feel like sidestepping this issue doesn\u2019t solve it when the whole purpose of art, I would argue, is to bring us together<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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