Apu returns to The Simpsons with South Asian American voice actors

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 05:31 · Archive

The Simpsons has brought back Apu, absent for a decade, now voiced by Indian American actors.

The Simpsons brought back Apu in a recent 'Treehouse of Horror' Halloween episode after nearly a decade away from the screen. The Kwik-E-Mart operator and his wife Manjula featured in a substantive plotline, now voiced by Indian American actors Sunil Malhotra, a veteran voice-over artist, and Janina Gavankar from 'The Morning Show'.

The return addresses years of criticism around the character. A 2017 documentary by comedian Hari Kondabolu, 'The Problem With Apu', prompted the character's near-complete removal from the show. Kondabolu interviewed South Asian celebrities including Kal Penn, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Hasan Minhaj, who shared memories of being bullied and called 'Apu' as an insult whilst growing up. They criticised the character as a caricature, particularly because he had been voiced by Hank Azaria, a white actor.

Malhotra and Gavankar marked the return in a joint Instagram post, describing it as a 'reclamation' and Apu's 'homecoming'.

How it is being reported

• After years of backlash, Apu returns to 'The Simpsons' with a South Asian voiceThe Halloween-themed episodes of “The Simpsons” have always been a treat of spooky stand-alone storylines.News4Jax · 20 Oct, 05:01
• After years of backlash, Apu returns to 'The Simpsons' with a South Asian voiceThe Halloween-themed episodes of “The Simpsons” have always been a treat of spooky stand-alone storylines.Clickorlando · 20 Oct, 05:01

In this story: Apu · The Simpsons · Hank Azaria · Hari Kondabolu · Sunil Malhotra · Janina Gavankar · Hasan Minhaj

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