NEW TIMES: Producer Fox announces that “The Simpsons” will no longer use white actors’ voice for non-white characters. Here by series creator Matt Groening, along with the characters Bart and Homer Simpson. Photo: ROBYN BECK / AFP
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The TV series “The Simpsons” announces that they now stop using white actors’ voice for non-white characters after 30 years.
The US animated series has been rolling over the TV screens for 30 years, and 624 episodes have been broadcast so far.
Ever since the series began, the TV series has used white actors in the roles of non-white characters, such as actor Harry Shearer as Dr. Julius Hibbert and Hank Azaria in the role of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
Now, producer Fox says “The Simpsons” will no longer use white actors’ voice for non-white characters, CNN writes.
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Time has previously named “The Simpsons” the 20th-century best television series.
Created by Matt Groening for Fox Broadcasting Company, the series is a satirical depiction of working-class life, characterized by the Simpson family.
—DISCUSSED: The Indian-American character Apu in the TV series “The Simpsons” has been highly debated. Photo: TT NYHETSBYRÅN
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Discussed character
In January, Hank Azaria announced that he would no longer have the voice of Indian-American character Apu. The actress herself is not from South Asia, and also has the voice of several other characters in the series.
– We all agreed. We all feel it is the right thing and it feels good, he said according to the website / Film.
Apu has been the subject of much discussion, and one that has criticized the character a lot is comedian Hari Kondabolu, who released the documentary “The problem with Apu” in 2017.
– I hope they keep the character and let a very talented screenwriter do something interesting with him, Kondabolu wrote on Twitter in January.
He says that the aim of the documentary was to discuss race, representation and society, which he values very highly.
—CRITICAL: Comedian Hari Kondabolu released the documentary “The problem with Apu” in 2017, discussing how the characteristic of Apu can be seen as racism. Photo: Willy Sanjuan / Invision
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– It was also about being able to love something (like The Simpsons) and still being critical of aspects of it (Apu), he continues.
Struck back
In the documentary, Kondabolu interviews celebrities with South Asian origins to discuss how the characteristic of Apu can be seen as racism.
“The Simpsons” responded to the criticism in an episode in April 2018 through the character Lisa Simpson.
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—END: In January, Hank Azaria announced that he would no longer have the voice of Indian-American character Apu. Photo: Willy Sanjuan / Invision
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– Something that started decades ago, which was applauded and was harmless, is now politically incorrect. What can one do? Lisa asks, and then looks at a picture of Apu engraved with the text “Don’t have a cow”.
Later that month, Azaria said on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” that he was happy ending the role of Apu, and disagreed with how the program had coped with the criticism.
“The idea that someone – young or old, past or present – was bullied or teased because of the character Apu makes me very sad,” Azaria said.
– It was definitely not my intention. I wanted to spread laughter and joy with this character, and the thought that it has created pain and suffering in some sense, and used to marginalize people, makes me upset.
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