In 2017, a documentary named The Problem with Apu was released by comedian Hari Kondabolu who wrote and starred in the production. The documentary discussed the social repercussions of The Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a Kwik-E-Mart owner who speaks with a very heavy and stereotypical Indian accent despite being voiced by a white man. Last Sunday The Simpsons offered its reply.
The troubling scene began with Marge reading a bedtime story to Lisa that had been sprinkled with social justice buzzwords. “What am I supposed to do?” Marge asks when Lisa complains. “It’s hard to say,” says Lisa, looking directly at the camera. A photo of Apu on the nightstand helped make it very clear they were no longer talking about the bedtime story. “Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?” says Lisa. “Some things will be dealt with at a later date,” says Marge, also to the camera. “—If it all,” Lisa concludes.
And to make it even more heartbreaking, they put the harsh words in the mouth of Lisa Simpson, the most compassionate and intelligent of all of The Simpsons characters. Lisa Simpson, outspoken feminist, Buddhist, passionate about animals and environment, eternally moral and empathetic, would be the least likely to dismiss Kondabolu’s arguments. She would be the first to challenge the status quo, to point out wrongs that should be corrected no matter the circumstance. The Simpsons writers using her character as a human shield is the ultimate act of cowardice, and furthermore a betrayal of her character and those who love her.
There’s something about the response that came across as not only tasteless but extremely unsatisfying. As Kondabolu made clear in his film, the problem with Apu extends beyond a brown character voiced by a white actor. The problem was not just with The Simpsons, but with its viewers. Those who call any South-Asian person “Apu” and who repeat “Thank you, come again,” as a mocking refrain. By ignoring the problems with the character Apu, The Simpsons is only justifying these viewers actions thus giving them the green light to continue to degrade anyone resembling Apu.
And so The Simpsons’ response to criticism is a cop-out in the worst way. Their defensive demeanor is even more baffling when you consider that Kondabolu’s challenge came from a place of love. He is a fan of The Simpsons, which is why he wanted to fix what he saw as its most unsavory element. The element that might have been socially acceptable a quarter of a century ago but needs to be readdressed in 2018. In response to the episode airing Kondabolu tweeted out a universal response to all of the journalists asking him for a statement: “Congratulations to the Simpsons for being talked about & being seen as relevant again.”
