Controversial Documentary ‘The Problem With Apu’ Is On Aussie TV Tonight
In case you still don't understand why the character is racist.
The documentary that kick-started the debate about whether Apu from The Simpsons is an offensive racial stereotype is finally coming to Australia and is set to air on SBS Viceland on Tuesday night.
Directed by comedian Hari Kondabolu, The Problem with Apu argues that the Kwik-E-Mart owner’s portrayal by white voice actor Hank Azaria is a form of minstrelsy and that the character reinforces stereotypes about people from South Asia. The documentary includes interviews with Whoopi Goldberg, Kal Penn and Hasan Minhaj, and sparked fierce disagreement among viewers of the show.
Azaria has since acknowledged the controversy, telling The Late Show host Stephen Colbert in an interview earlier this year that he would be happy to give up the role, and that it would be “the right thing to do”.
Unfortunately, the makers of the show have been far less diplomatic in their response. They alluded to the controversy during an episode back in April by having Lisa and Marge discuss “political correctness” before panning to a framed photo of Apu sitting on Lisa’s bedside table. Unsurprisingly, fans didn’t love that either.
Meanwhile, series creator Matt Groening dismissed the issue by saying “I think it’s a time in our culture where people love to pretend they’re offended.”
The makers of South Park also made fun of the controversy by having their characters jokingly refer to Springfield as a place where people “don’t care about bigotry and hate”.
The Problem with Apu airs on SBS Viceland at 9:35pm tonight, Tuesday October 16.