Hank Azaria Steps Back as Apu Voice on THE SIMPSONS
By: Sarah Jae Leiber Jan. 17, 2020
Variety reports that Hank Azaria will no longer voice Apu on "The Simpsons" going forward.
"I won't be doing THE VOICE anymore, unless there's someway to transition it or something," Azaria said. "What they're going to do with the character is their call. It's up to them and they haven't sorted it out yet. All we've agreed on is I won't do THE VOICE anymore."
After Hari Kondabolu's documentary "The Problem With Apu," fans started calling for a change. In the film, Kondabolu discusses how Azaria's portrayal of Apu is damaging for South Asian fans.
"The idea that anyone young or old, past or present, being bullied based on Apu really makes me sad," Azaria said in the aftermath of the film. "It certainly was not my intention. I wanted to bring joy and laughter to people."
Kondabolu tweeted in response this afternoon:
If @HankAzaria is indeed no longer doing THE VOICE of Apu, I do hope they keep the character & let a very talented writing staff do something interesting with him. If not to better the show, then to atleast spare me some death threats.
- Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) January 17, 2020
Read the original story on Variety.
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