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Voice actor Hank Azaria said that The Simpsons team would respond to the controversy surrounding the character Apu, and now that response has arrived. Viewers, however, aren’t too pleased with how the show handled criticism that the long-running character has always been a stereotype, one voiced by a white actor doing an Indian accent. The criticism even formed the basis of a documentary, The Problem with Apu, which brought the conversation surrounding the character to a larger audience.
The problem with Apu, who debuted back in Season 1, was finally addressed last night in the Season 29 episode “No Good Read Goes Unpunished.” In it, Marge decides to read her favorite book The Princess in the Garden to Lisa. While reading the book, Marge discovers that there are a lot of uncomfortable stereotypes about the Irish and South Americans. She hides the racist parts from Lisa, and later updates the story to reflect modern times, including making the lead character a cisgender girl who frees horses and fights for net neutrality.
Lisa says this updated version of the lead already seems like a well-adjusted character, therefore lacking a need to go on an emotional journey, therefore rendering the book pointless. Marge wonders what she’s supposed to do with the story, now that she knows parts of it are racist. Lisa responds:
“Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”
This is followed by a shot of Lisa looking at a framed picture of Apu. Then Marge replies: “Some things will be dealt with a later date.”
“If at all,” Lisa adds, and then they both stare into the camera at the audience.
Needless to say, people were not pleased with this response, calling it “toothless” among many other things. Hari Kondabolu, the filmmaker behind The Problem with Apu, responded on Twitter.
Plenty of fans were also upset that the show put these words into Lisa’s mouth, specifically because Lisa has traditionally been the most progressive voice on the show.
