Hank Azaria Stopped Voicing Apu After Discovering He Was a Racist Slur

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Eight years have passed since Hank Azaria ceased portraying his debatable Apu character from The Simpsons. Yet, the dialogue about his decision to step back – and almost not do so – remains a captivating exploration of how racism is perceived and addressed within the entertainment industry and among the public. During an interview on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, this exceptional actor, who still lends his voice to various characters on The Simpsons, clarified that there are some individuals who fail to comprehend why he can no longer voice Apu.

At first glance, there seems to be a puzzling inconsistency in representation across various aspects such as race, gender, sexuality, and more, especially when it comes to characters not traditionally portrayed as straight or white. Actors of different races can’t lend their voices to non-white characters without controversy, but they can convincingly adopt European accents with little criticism. Similarly, actors who are heterosexual often face backlash for taking roles meant for LGBTQ+ actors, potentially stealing jobs from them. This pattern is widespread. Azaria was one of those individuals who didn’t initially recognize the problem in portraying an Indian character or, as he mentions, an Italian character. However, delving into the cultural impact of his character Apu made him understand the unintended harmful consequences that he had previously overlooked.

The voice was modeled after a character named Hrundi V. Bakshi from the 1967 film ‘The Party’, portrayed by Peter Sellers in brownface. This character is often compared to Inspector Clouseau, with his French accent, and Doctor Strangelove, with his German accent. The question that still arises is: What sets Hrundi V. Bakshi’s somewhat silly Indian voice apart from the harmless portrayals of Luigi and Cletus? Critics often ask: Why is it acceptable to mimic these characters, but not Apu? Isn’t this a contradiction?

Initially, I intended to investigate further before resuming my work with the voiceover, saying “I understand,” but found myself involved in something potentially harmful instead. This wasn’t what I had anticipated.

Hank Azaria Discovered Apu’s Name Was Being Used as a Slur

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rnyMXm1ThQ

Reflecting on the debates surrounding my character Apu from 2017, I realized there was an aspect I hadn’t fully considered before – the perception of my portrayal among the wider community. Unsettlingly, it seemed that my role had inadvertently become a racial slur for Southern Asian people. This revelation prompted me to delve deeper into the impact of my character on society, and it was then I understood the need for change.

To be clear, I don’t consider myself a hero, but I found myself in this situation due to professional obligations. There were several critical moments that influenced my decision, and one of the most significant was when hate crimes targeted Southern Asian individuals, often referred to as ‘Apu.’ This term became a slur when convenience store workers were attacked or robbed. It was particularly distressing when people in more stereotypical professions were physically assaulted and called ‘Apu.’ Unfortunately, this situation escalated into something harmful, even though we didn’t intend for it to be that way. Of course, we aren’t responsible for the hate that emerged from it, but we may have unwittingly set the stage for such prejudice.

There are many other prejudices and issues that significantly impact people of color in this nation. Although Apu may not seem like a significant matter on its own, it offers an insight into something quite significant.

Ever since 2017, there’s been a shift in how voice acting roles are perceived, contrasting with how on-screen roles were traditionally viewed. Though not everyone endorses the changes made – as is typical – the ongoing discussion about it underscores the need for this conversation that should have happened much sooner.

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2025-04-11 15:34