Hank Azaria has apologised for participating in "structural racism" via his portrayal of Indian convenience store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on the long-running animated show, The Simpsons.
Appearing on an episode of the Armchair Expert podcast hosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, Azaria said the issue has weighed on his mind for a while.
“I’ve had a date with destiny with this thing for about 31 years,” he said. “Part of me feels like I need to go around to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologise, and sometimes I do when it comes up.”
During the podcast, he also specifically addressed Padman, who is Indian-American.
“I know you weren’t asking for that, but it’s important,” he said. “I apologise for my part in creating that and participating in that.”
The character has drawn criticism over the last few years owing to its racially stereotypical behaviour, combined with the fact it was voiced by a Caucasian actor.
Azaria quit voicing Apu in 2020, saying he didn't feel right playing the part and sharing how he took several seminars and spoke to Indians to get a better understanding of why the character was problematic.
He recalls one interaction with a teenage student who said he had never watched the show but understood what Apu was about.
"I was speaking at my son's school, I was talking to the Indian kids there because I wanted to get their input," Azaria explained. "A 17-year-old … he's never even seen The Simpsons but knows what Apu means. It's practically a slur at this point. All he knows is that is how his people are thought of and represented to many people in this country."
The actor also called for other animated series to make changes when it comes to representation among their casts.
“If it’s an Indian character or a Latinx character or a black character, please let’s have that person voice the character. It’s more authentic, they’ll bring their experience to it and let’s not take jobs away from people who don’t have enough.”
