--- title: 'The Simpsons' Hank Azaria Discusses Apu Controversy description: Hank Azaria says he'd be willing to "step aside" from voicing Apu on 'The Simpsons' following recent criticism about the character canonical: https://time.com/5253884/hank-azaria-the-simpsons-apu/ copyright: © 2026 TIME USA, LLC. All Rights Reserved. terms: https://legal.time.com/terms-of-service/ license_contact: syndication@time.com author: Casey Quackenbush article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-04-25T08:23:44.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-12T20:20:27.000Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: 'The Simpsons' Hank Azaria Says He'd 'Step Aside' From Apu og:description: Azaria also called for more South Asian writers on the show og:url: https://time.com/5253884/hank-azaria-the-simpsons-apu/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt23e20879d225f741/69892e98656a3f689dbd43c7/gettyimages-691029824.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: FYC Event For IFC's "Brockmire" And "Documentary Now!" - Arrivals og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 'The Simpsons' Hank Azaria Says He'd 'Step Aside' From Apu twitter:description: Azaria also called for more South Asian writers on the show twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt23e20879d225f741/69892e98656a3f689dbd43c7/gettyimages-691029824.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Hank Azaria Is Willing to 'Step Aside' From Voicing Apu on _The Simpsons_ Following Controversy > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: The Problem With Apu - Official Trailer truTV [Watch (HLS stream): The Problem With Apu - Official Trailer truTV](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PHqpw6R0.m3u8) (2:06)  _Published 2018-04-09. The Problem With Apu Official Trailer_ by [Casey Quackenbush](https://time.com/author/casey-quackenbush/) ## Casey Quackenbush Updated: Dec 12, 2023 8:20 PM UTCPublished: Apr 25, 2018 8:23 AM UTC by [Casey Quackenbush](https://time.com/author/casey-quackenbush/) ## Casey Quackenbush Updated: Dec 12, 2023 8:20 PM UTCPublished: Apr 25, 2018 8:23 AM UTC Hank Azaria told Stephen Colbert on _The Late Show_ Tuesday that he would be willing to “step aside” from voicing one of his characters following recent criticism. Azaria voices Indian shopkeeper Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, who has been a character on the Fox television series since 1990\. Controversy has brewed around the role since the release of a documentary last year called _The Problem with Apu_. Between the mannerisms and exaggerated accent, the documentary’s writer Hari Kondabolu said the character embodies racial stereotypes. _The Simpsons_ showrunners were largely silent about the criticism until one of the main characters appeared to make a passive reference to it in an episode that aired earlier this month, Variety [reports](http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/hank-azaria-apu-step-aside-1202786117/). In the episode, ‘No Good Read Goes Unpunished,’ Lisa said, “something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect.” The remark drew more criticism, with many saying _The Simpsons_ insufficiently addressed the problem. > [](https://twitter.com/colbertlateshow/status/988991809723318272) Azaria apologized on _The Late Show_ to anyone who was “hurt and offended.” “I had nothing to do with the writing or the voicing \[in that episode\]. I think if anyone came away from that segment thinking they need to lighten up … that’s definitely not the message that I want to send,” Azaria [told Colbert](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hank-azaria-says-hed-be-willing-step-simpsons-apu-role-controversy-1105496), according to the _Hollywood Reporter_.  Homer and Marge, and Manjula and Apu on 'Much Apu About Something' episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Jan. 17. FOX/Getty Images Azaria added, “I think the most important thing is to listen to South Asian people, Indian people in this country when they talk about what they feel and how they think about the character, and what their American experience of it has been.” “I really want to see Indian, South Asian writers in the writers room … including how \[Apu\] is voiced or not voiced. I’m perfectly willing to step aside. It just feels like the right thing to do to me,” he said. ## Transcript I hate Apu. Hate Apu. And because of that I dislike the Simpsons. The whole series? Yeah. I love the Simpsons because. You hate yourself. [ MUSIC ] My name is [ UNKNOWN ], I've had a great career filled with laughter, critical acclaim. I should be completely happy but there's still one man who haunts me, Apu Nahasapeemapetilo Please pay for your purchases and get out and come again. How many of you've had to deal with being called apu or that being referenced? The Simpsons stereotypes all races. The problem is we didn't have any other representation. Cabbie, cabbie, cabbie, deli Delhi, Delhi. [ LAUGH ] Doctor. You know a white guy does the voice? A white guy doing an impression of a white guy making fun of my father. [ LAUGH ] How do you feel about that? I'm making a movie about how much I dislike it. Right away they were like you do an Indian voice and how offense can you make it? [ LAUGH ] I immediately began to talk this way. I was like it's not tremendously accurate, it's a little stereotype. They're like, that's all right. They want the accent to sound like this and they want your tongue to be really pulled back. So [ UNKNOWN ] was going into a room having to do that exact thing in front of people like a monkey. [ SOUND ] [ NOISE ] There are accents that, by their nature, to white Americans sound funny, period. It's funny because it's racist. Does Apu count as the minstrel since it's brown paint, a white guy's voice? He has all the qualifications. Remember, please children, that in life There is nothing that is not so disgusting that it cannot be sold on a heated roller at a nearly criminal markup. [ SOUND ] Now I realize some of you think I'm some annoying PC social justice warrior that's very sensitive. And you're probably thinking, come on, snowflake, let it go. Well I have let it go. For 28 years. 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