Fans Outraged at How The Simpsons Handled the Apu Stereotype Controversy: ‘This is Sad’
In the wake of comedian Hari Kondabolu’s documentary The Problem With Apu, which addressed the negative stereotypes of South Asian people the character promulgated, The Simpsons decided to respond to the criticism in a way that made many viewers even more incensed.
In Sunday’s new episode of the longest-running scripted series in TV history, Lisa and Marge discuss the pitfalls of too much political correctness.
“Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?” Lisa says as the camera pans out to reveal a picture of Apu on her nightstand.
“Some things will be dealt with at a later date,” Marge replies dismissively.
“If at all,” says Lisa, and the two look directly at the camera.
Kondabolu was saddened by the collective shrug the Simpsons show runners seemed to give through this scene to his and others’ concerns, and said so on Twitter:
Wow. “Politically Incorrect?” That’s the takeaway from my movie & the discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad. https://t.co/lYFH5LguEJ
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018
In “The Problem with Apu,” I used Apu & The Simpsons as an entry point into a larger conversation about the representation of marginalized groups & why this is important. The Simpsons response tonight is not a jab at me, but at what many of us consider progress.
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018
Others quickly backed him up:
Among the many issues here: Lisa would never say this. https://t.co/fcj9NMXTN1
— Lisa Tozzi (@lisatozzi) April 9, 2018
The Simpsons response to The Problem with Apu: a callous and resentful shrug. pic.twitter.com/8N6XRzNvsi
— William Mullally (@whmullally) April 9, 2018
I wish the Simpsons writers had some idea of how shitty they made the childhood & teenage years of so many brown kids. The show turned our parents into punchlines. We never clapped. Apu was a cheap joke in an otherwise clever show. How hard would it be to admit that? https://t.co/f3rgT1RYP0
— Erika H. (@DrCanonic) April 9, 2018
Simpsons To ‘The Problem With Apu’: Drop Dead.
That whole response is ugly, ugly, ugly, not to mention profoundly illogical and straw-man-slaying.
— Linda Holmes (@lindaholmes) April 9, 2018
I love when a bunch of Harvard white guys tell us what’s racist
— osama bin eatin (@taIiban69) April 9, 2018
I think the fact that they put this “argument” in the mouth of Lisa’s character, the character who usually champions the underdogs and is supposed to be the most thoughtful and liberal, is what makes this the most ridiculous (as in worthy of ridicule) and toothless response.
— Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
Simpsons executive producer Al Jean even anticipated the blowback, tweeting before the show that people would be upset by how the show handled the situation:
.@TheSimpsons New Simpsons in five minutes. Twitter explosion in act three.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 8, 2018
Watch the clip above, via Fox.
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Follow Rachel Dicker on Twitter: @rachelmdicker
