The Simpsons showrunner Al Jean has said that the show will “continue to try to find an answer” that is both “popular” and “right” in response to the controversy surrounding the character of Apu.
Last year, comedian Hari Kondabolu’s The Problem With Apu documentary looked at the problematic nature of the Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
In response to initial criticism that the character is a racist stereotype, The Simpsons aired an episode last week (‘No Good Read Goes Unpunished’) that saw Marge and Lisa approach the issue.
In one scene, Lisa turns to the camera and recites the monologue: “Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”. The camera then pans to a framed photo of Apu, which features the words, “Don’t have a cow, Apu”. Watch in the clip below.
Following the episode’s airing, the show’s tackling of the subject was criticised and labelled “toothless” by some fans.
#TheSimpsons completely toothless response to @harikondabolu #TheProblemWithApu about the racist character Apu:
"Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect… What can you do?" pic.twitter.com/Bj7qE2FXWN
— soham (@sohamberlamps) April 9, 2018
Al Jean – who has been showrunner since 2001 – has since taken to Twitter to respond to the feedback from fans, saying that he “appreciates all responses pro and con” and that the show will “continue to try to find an answer that is popular & more [importantly] right”.
In a response to a fan’s tweet, Jean said that “something could be unpopular but still be right”. He also described the furore as “a free speech issue”, adding that he favours “open expression of all types to a pretty large degree”.
.@TheSimpsons I truly appreciate all responses pro and con. Will continue to try to find an answer that is popular & more important right
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 13, 2018
I'm only saying something could be unpopular but still be right.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 13, 2018
To me it's a free speech issue.
I favor open expression of all types to a pretty large degree.— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 13, 2018
The producer also said that the show has been trying to “make Apu nuanced, sympathetic and… admirable for 30 years”. Jean pointed to the introduction of Apu’s nephew, Jay Nahasapeemapetilon, in 2016, saying that the new character was “deemed unsatisfactory” at the time. “There’s no solution I fear that will satisfy,” he added.
we've been trying to make Apu nuanced, sympathetic and (more than our other characters) admirable for 30 years
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 13, 2018
It's not. We tried bringing in Utkarsh Ambudkar as Apu's nephew. It was deemed unsatisfactory –there's no solution I fear that will satisfy.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 13, 2018
Kondabolu tweeted last week that the show’s response to his documentary’s criticism was “sad”. See his tweet below.
Wow. “Politically Incorrect?” That’s the takeaway from my movie & the discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad. https://t.co/lYFH5LguEJ
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018