The creators of animated series The Simpsons will no longer use white actors to give a voice to non-white characters in the series, they said in a statement on Friday.
For years, the series has been criticized for portraying the Indo-American supermarket owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, who has long been perceived as stereotyped and racist. In January, American actor and comedian Hank Azaria said he would stop recording Apu’s voice.
Azaria has also voiced other characters in the series, such as black police officer Lou and Mexican American Bumblebee Man. The statement does not report whether Apu and other characters disappear or are modified.
The Simpsons is not the only American television series to scrutinize the representation of minorities in the cast due to the Black Lives Matter protests. For example, actors of series like Family Guy in Central Park indicated that they no longer want to use their voices for colored characters
Last week, actress Jenny Slate announced that she is retiring as the voice actress for the character Missy in the animated series Big Mouth. She no longer considers it appropriate for the multiracial girl to be voiced by someone with a white skin color.
The Simpsons is an American animated series devised by Matt Groening and has won many awards since its debut in 1989, including Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.
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