David
2018-04-09 11:49:03 UTC
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-addresses-apu-stereotype-controversy-1100853
'The Simpsons' Addresses Apu Stereotype Controversy
by Abid Rahman
Following recent criticism that the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
pushed negative South Asian stereotypes, The Simpsons addressed the
controversy on Sunday's episode.
In the episode "No Good Read Goes Unpunished," Marge and Lisa
indirectly discuss the portrayal of Apu. In the scene in question,
Marge has edited a new version of The Princess in the Garden,
tailoring it to what would be acceptable and inoffensive in 2018.
Marge reads the story to Lisa, but the new version is much shorter and
lacking in an "emotional journey" for the central character. Both
Marge and Lisa then make reference to Apu, with Lisa looking at a
picture of the character and saying "something that started decades
ago and was applauded and inoffensive, is now politically incorrect.
What can you do?"
Kondabolu responded to the episode on Twitter on Sunday. "Wow.
Politically Incorrect? Thats the takeaway from my movie & the
discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad," he
wrote. "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."
'The Simpsons' Addresses Apu Stereotype Controversy
by Abid Rahman
Following recent criticism that the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
pushed negative South Asian stereotypes, The Simpsons addressed the
controversy on Sunday's episode.
In the episode "No Good Read Goes Unpunished," Marge and Lisa
indirectly discuss the portrayal of Apu. In the scene in question,
Marge has edited a new version of The Princess in the Garden,
tailoring it to what would be acceptable and inoffensive in 2018.
Marge reads the story to Lisa, but the new version is much shorter and
lacking in an "emotional journey" for the central character. Both
Marge and Lisa then make reference to Apu, with Lisa looking at a
picture of the character and saying "something that started decades
ago and was applauded and inoffensive, is now politically incorrect.
What can you do?"
Kondabolu responded to the episode on Twitter on Sunday. "Wow.
Politically Incorrect? Thats the takeaway from my movie & the
discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad," he
wrote. "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."