The Simpsons’ Hank Azaria Gets Honest About What Ultimately Convinced Him To Retire Apu’s Voice Despite Initially Thinking The Backlash Would Blow Over

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Comedy can occasionally grow stale like spoiled milk, as jokes that were once hilarious in the ’80s may lose their humor in 20 or 25 years. The humor we find amusing evolves with time, affecting everything from roasts to impressions to specific jokes. This is why some comedic elements can shift from playful jabs to being seen as offensive over the years. This discussion leads us to The Simpsons‘ character Apu, who voice actor Hank Azaria decided to retire in 2020, despite initially thinking the backlash would subside.

Over time, comedy can become as unappealing as spoiled milk, with jokes that were once funny in the ’80s potentially losing their charm in 20 or 25 years. The humor people find amusing tends to change over time, impacting elements like roasts, impressions, and specific jokes. This is why some comedic aspects can transition from being playful jabs to offending people as the years pass. This conversation centers around The Simpsons‘ character Apu, who voice actor Hank Azaria chose to retire in 2020, despite initially believing the backlash would fade away.

In a conversation on the podcast ‘Pablo Torre Finds Out’, voice artist Hank Azaria, famed for his roles as a human jukebox, shares some of the influences behind his most memorable characters and his past views about AI and the potential replacement of his job by machines. Throughout their discussion, they delve into Azaria’s thoughts on addressing the controversy surrounding the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. During this exchange, he openly discusses the introspection that ensued when people urged him to step away from voicing the character.

Instead of merely asking if I should continue with the voice, there was a need for thorough exploration. It wasn’t about casually setting it aside to ponder later. More like, an in-depth examination that took years, given our initial shock at ‘The Simpsons’. We were clueless about how to proceed. The character fell silent, and we found ourselves questioning, ‘Is this racist? Is there a historical pattern in Hollywood of such portrayals? In some sense, am I contributing to this?’

After the 2017 debut of “The Problem With Apu,” a documentary by comedian Hari Kondabolu, discussions around the issue grew more extensive due to the documentary’s examination of the damaging stereotypes portrayed by the character of Apu. In the heat of the controversy, actor Hank Azaria expressed his thoughts on the matter, and later in 2020, when he formally relinquished his role as the voice of Apu, he revisited this topic as well.

Regardless of him no longer playing the role, people continue to ask him about the characters he voice-acted for on The Simpsons.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m often asked, “Why can you do Luigi?” or “‘Why can you talk like Cletus?'” These questions aren’t offensive, but they’re followed by, “And that’s not a problem? But you can’t do Apu?” Initially, I considered delving into it and then resuming the voice, thinking, “I get it, but I’ll continue with this.” However, upon reflection, I realized, “No, I think I’m contributing to harm here.

In both the documentary and Azaria’s interview on ‘Pablo Torre Finds Out’, they discuss the reactions of people outside the show regarding the Apu character. Later, Azaria admitted that he became aware of the mockery and hurt feelings he unintentionally instigated when he realized this. Although he didn’t intend to do harm, it was unfortunate that his portrayal had such an impact.

In many instances when hate crimes were committed against individuals of Southern Asian descent, they were often referred to as “Apu.” This term became derogatory during incidents where convenience store workers were assaulted, shot, or robbed. Particularly impactful were those who fit stereotypical professions such as taxi drivers. These individuals were not only physically harmed but also subjected to being called “Apu.” It’s essential to understand that the use of this term goes beyond simple mockery, such as dismissing it as a silly voice. There is a deeper layer of stereotyping and racial prejudice behind the term ‘Apu,’ which has real and harmful consequences for people of color in our country.

For decades, The Simpsons has been a mainstay in popular media, and it’s no stranger to debate over its satirical content. Episodes such as ‘Stark Raving Mad’ have generated headlines, just like the controversy surrounding the episode ‘Blame it on Lisa’ with Brazil. On other occasions, the show dared to tackle sensitive subjects, which now seem more progressive in hindsight; ‘Homer’s Phobia’, for example, remains a significant milestone in television history.

For quite some time now, Hank Azaria has shifted his stance on that particular matter. The fact that he still openly discusses it shows a lot about his personality, without making any intentional puns.

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2025-04-22 07:07