The Simpsons Brings Back Apu With New Voice Actor Sunil Malhotra
· Entertainment · BBC News
The Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has returned to the long-running US animated series voiced by India-born US-raised actor Sunil Malhotra in an episode titled The Revengening. Apu had been seen but not heard around Springfield since an October 2017 episode following accusations that the South Asian convenience store clerk was founded on racial stereotypes. Original voice actor Hank Azaria stepped down from the role in 2020 after Indian-American comic Hari Kondabolu released a documentary titled The Problem With Apu criticising the heavy accent and character portrayal. Malhotra stated that he spoke with showrunner Matt Selman and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos to ensure the character's return was culturally appropriate. Azaria previously expressed regret over his portrayal, stating he felt the need to personally apologise to Indian individuals.
Why it matters
The return of Apu addresses a long-running controversy over racial representation in US animation, marking a shift toward more authentic casting and culturally appropriate writing for South Asian characters.
Read the original report — BBC News
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.