On The Late Show, Hank Azaria says recasting Apu “seems like the right thing to do”
Midway through an interview largely given over to the ongoing discussion about the problematic nature of his 29-year run as Springfield’s most prominent South Asian character voiced by a white guy, Hank Azaria told Stephen Colbert that he was just as unpleasantly surprised by The Simpsons’ recent, defensive non-apology as anyone. After Late Show host Colbert half-apologized for “holding [Azaria’s] feet to the fire” with his questions, Azaria claimed that, like a lot of viewers, he didn’t know about the show’s unsubtle reference to the controversy until he watched the episode. Noting, “I had nothing to do with the writing or voicing” of the aside in question—in which Lisa Simpson, of all people, basically tells Indian-Americans hurt by Azaria’s stereotypical portrayal to get over it—the Emmy-winning actor distanced himself from the show’s response pretty unequivocally. Referring to those who agree with this imposter Lisa’s implication that “people need to lighten up or grow a thicker skin,” Azaria said, “That’s certainly not the way I feel about it,” adding, “That’s definitely not the message I want to send.” (Unlike, say, Simpsons showrunner Al Jean.)
