The Simpsons Addresses Apu Controversy in Worst Manner Conceivable

Since final yr’s launch of The Downside of Apu – the documentary written by and starring the comic Hari Kondabolu, who dissected the unfavourable stereotypes of South Asians fuelled by The Simpsons’ portrayal of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon for practically three many years – the present has been beneath the highlight for contributing to racism towards the group. And in its newest episode on Sunday, The Simpsons addressed the difficulty for the primary time, however as an alternative of acknowledging its faults, the present issued what can finest be described as a tone-deaf response to the controversy.

Halfway via “No Good Learn Goes Unpunished”, the fifteenth episode of The Simpsons’ twenty ninth season, Marge reads a guide to her daughter Lisa – it is referred to as “The Princess within the Backyard” by Heloise Hodgeson Burwell, which is a spin on “The Secret Backyard” by Frances Hodgson Burnett – which she has edited closely to make it culturally acceptable for at the moment’s time. Her modifications find yourself shortening the story, and eradicating an “emotional journey” for the character, disappointing Lisa within the course of.

The Simpsons bafflingly makes use of that to make some extent in regards to the Apu controversy, with Marge questioning what she was purported to do. To which Lisa replies, by breaking the fourth wall: “It’s onerous to say. One thing that began many years in the past and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What are you able to do?” As she finishes her thought, the episode reveals Apu’s picture in an image body subsequent to Lisa’s mattress, with the phrases “Haven’t got a cow, Apu” inscribed on prime of it.

However wait, it will get worse. Marge walks as much as consolation her daughter, saying: “Some issues can be handled a later date,” earlier than Lisa shortly provides: “If in any respect,” as each mom and daughter flip their eyes in direction of the digicam, in case whoever is watching was nonetheless unclear that the present was immediately addressing the viewers this complete time. When Hank Azaria, the white actor who voices Apu, had stated The Simpsons would “positively handle” the criticisms again in January, this apathetic technique would not have been on anybody’s thoughts.

Wow. “Politically Incorrect?” That’s the takeaway from my film & the dialogue it sparked? Man, I actually cherished this present. That is unhappy. https://t.co/lYFH5LguEJ

— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018

In “The Downside with Apu,” I used Apu & The Simpsons as an entry level into a bigger dialog in regards to the illustration of marginalized teams & why that is vital. The Simpsons response tonight shouldn’t be a jab at me, however at what many people contemplate progress.

— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018

As you may anticipate, the response to The Simpsons’ botched dealing with of the Apu controversy has been nothing however shock. In two tweets on Sunday after the episode, Kondabolu stated: “Wow. ‘Politically Incorrect?’ That’s the takeaway from my film & the dialogue it sparked? Man, I actually cherished this present. That is unhappy.” and added later: “The Simpsons response tonight shouldn’t be a jab at me, however at what many people contemplate progress.”

Whereas fully avoiding the subject would not have been a shock, coping with such a fragile matter – Apu’s traits have lengthy been utilized by non-South Asians as slurs and to bully South Asian youngsters – in such an offhanded style additional contributes to the notion that The Simpsons has misplaced its method and has lengthy been out of the cultural dialog. Most critics and viewers agree that the present has been routinely unfunny for the final fifteen years, and has persistently gotten extra crass and careless over time.