‘The Simpsons’ producer confirms Apu is being written out of the show - Sensationalist Headlines

extrremely cool how facepunch threw out the rulebook and image posts aren't bannable anymore.

I really hope you are not white and using an asian avatar by your logic.

extrremely cool how facepunch threw out the rulebook and making posts so low bad they harm other posters physically isnt bannable anymore

How about they write off the whole show?

I did see that Jouska got banned.

So when are they getting rid of the rest of their stereotype-based characters? Looking forward to the first non-offensive Simpsons episode ever, a feature-less expanse of nothing.

A featureless expanse of nothing would probably be better than watching a modern simpsons episode anyways. Show just needs to be taken out behind the shed, goddamn.

Yet, Samurai Jack still depicts someone of a particular ethnicity and cultural background that exists similarly as they did historically (up until they are thrust into the future) and played by someone who is neither doing an impression of it. Just because you weren't offended by it doesn't mean someone else with a Japanese background wasn't. Likewise, I'm sure you could find Indian audiences of the Simpsons who don't give a shit about Apu or appreciated having an Indian character in American mass media. If Apu's character was simply the butt of a joke about Indians or Hindus, I would be more concerned. As it stands now, I don't see how he isn't a positive representation of both Indians and immigrants despite his voice actor not being either. The Simpsons may have different objectives as a show, but it is still very much set in a fantastical world where the writers can do whatever they can come up with. The voice acting business is littered with instances where people play characters that are not their own race, ethnicity, or gender. Khary Payton as Aquaman, Christine Cavanaugh as Dexter, Tara Strong as Ben Tennyson and Timmy Turner, Troy Baker as Pagan Min, the entire cast of both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. It goes on and on. It's kind of like it's more about the sound of their voice and how it fits the character than it is how much they resemble that character. Hank Azaria is Apu just as much as I'd argue any of those mentioned are their characters. If we're going to complain that Apu is a stereotype and a caricature, we might as well cancel the show, because (aside from going on way too long and lost a lot of its charm) the whole show is about caricatures and stereotypes and willfully ignores the amount of depth they have given him over the years (for an animated sitcom, that is).

I've never heard of anyone having an issue with Samurai Jack though but I guess anything is possible I think the characters are completely different. They're both asian, sure. But Jack is the main character in a hero story, Apu is a supporting character in a satire of American culture. Jack is basically Superman. Jack is pretty static, is basically morally correct in any given scene he's in and his world is one of absolutes, ultimate good vs ultimate evil. I think there's also way more thought put into the orgins of the character than Apu was ever given when he was created. Avatar: the Last Airbender and Korra is actually another good example of this because they put tons of thought into the worldbuilding of all the various cultures and actually hired a martial artist as a consulted so they could get the various elemental bending techniques right, because they're based on real life martial arts techniques. they did their research. I'm not denying that Apu is without depth but the simpsons has been around for so long that apu has become a sterotype unto himself. people in this thread have made the point that apu is a positve role model which which I think is also correct. These aren't mutually exclusive ideas.

https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/637/e0892d0a-0344-4fcc-89ab-475922f9f41e/image.png https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/637/1146904d-eea1-43b5-88f7-b8521221883d/image.png what the fuck the simpsons is so offensive!! ban this sick filth!!!

Oh boohoo says the guy moving this off topic

so a black dude doing a stereotypical japanese accent is fine but you take issue with this: huh

Context isn't worth a damn apparently

Ehh, I don't have anything to say about this. I haven't watched the simpsons in a long time, so I can't really make any educated judgements on it. I'm pretty sure I have played that simpsons mobile game more recently than watching them, and that was like 2-3 years ago.

I don't even get what's so offensive about the accent. It's absolutely a thing. I've met several Indian people at uni with very thick accents.

what a pathetic response, and you wonder why nobody thinks you're worth their time

The only nuance I could take from it is that the guy is horribly insecure about his own identity and just wants to project his problems on some random cartoon character just because he could not move on from a bunch of mean words at school.

So the problem isn't Apu, then, it's the show itself. Which is entirely separate from the argument of Apu being taken off the show because of controversy. You're exhibiting the double-standard. Jack is okay, being played by a black American doing a fake Japanese accent because he's written as the hero; but Apu, played by a white American doing a fake Indian accent is bad because the character started off as a caricature. Never mind the 30 years or so worth of characterization he has been given. It doesn't matter what Apu started as because of how much the writers have expanded on him far beyond what he was. It doesn't justify taking him off the show. On Avatar, that doesn't answer the issue that Kondabolu has of Hank Azaria being white playing an Indian. If Avatar has taken all this effort to reflect Asian cultures, surely it could have cast Asian actors or actors of Asian descent to further emulate the setting and aesthetic; but many of the actors are white. Would it have been okay for them, then, to use fake accents because of all the effort and research put into the setting? It's funny you mention convenience, too, because that's often why we get situations like Apu and Samurai Jack. That's why on a show like The Simpsons, you have a handful of actors playing many different roles. Because often times they find the best and most convenient actors they can that are available to them and within their budget. Do you even know what you're arguing? What is the point you're trying to make? Are you being contrarian for the sake of it?

ah yes skin color is VERY important and relevant, irregardless of context not racist btw

But context is exactly why Apu is okay as a character, because there's more to him than just a funny accent. There's already four pages plus a 45 minute long video explaining how and why. By now if you're still pretending that contextually Apu is worse than other similar cases then you're just delusional and not worth talking to.

I hate this kind of shit. Why can't these people go after real fucking problems. They're clearly capable of putting in the effort. These soft/faux attempts at being PC are ridiculous.

see, the thing about voice acting is that it literally DOES NOT MATTER what the actor's skin color or ethnicity is. it's ironic how apu was a very well-expanded upon character with several episodes dedicated solely to him, yet some people can't see past the "indian guy who owns the 7-11" and in turn, got him removed from the show and made it less ethnically diverse.

if the accent is a problem why not just change it? seems a bit excessive to just get rid of the character entirely

https://i.imgur.com/vYCj0nv.jpg

Wow, a MOB BOSS and a PIZZA CHEF? Looks like I have a BIG stink to raise On topic : this is fucking retarded but simpsons have been butchered for the longest time anyways.

did you know ravens can learn to imitate humans? its something they have from generations of imitating other animals to create opportunities for themselves, like having a larger hunter animal break open carcasses and such. but with constant exposure to humans via captivity they can imitate humans pretty well too. did you also know that I'd rather spend hours conversing with a raven instead of you? because even if he will say the same thing most of the time, he will be, unlike you, consistent, honest, fun, cute and in general better company.

i know you're joking, but let's just lay some stuff down. luigi the stereotypically italian pizza chef. he speaks in a heavy italian accent and is voiced by hank azaria, a jewish/spanish man born and raised in america. why is hank voicing apu not allowed, but hank voicing luigi is? they're both immigrants with heavy accents. it's dumb double standards that's literally judging people based on their skin color.

if apu was an idiot then it would be offensive but he successfully ran a business and has a nice happy family. it's only his fucking accent...

Oh outrage culture has reached the Simpsons now, great

I really don't get this, a character which technically represents my culture is Fat Tony, depicted as the typical Italian mafioso. It's the same "Italians are gangsters" stereotype yet I never found it offensive because i knew that stereotypes were just part of the show, in fact the most stereotypes are all based around American culture, from the Hillbilly to the extremely religious people. What's different with Apu? He's just another wacky character from the show, not to mention that he got many episodes through all the seasons that made him more than the "Indian immigrant with a heavy accent that works at a supermarket". If The Simpsons was still in its prime and the show wasn't this heavily merchandised "for kids" bullshit, they would've probably just laughed at the controversy and said "deal with it".