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"Simpsons" scene with the Indian-American shop owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon and his nephew Jay (2016)
Photo: Cinema Publishers Collection / imago images
Is Apu coming back?
And if so, will the controversial figure of the Indian-American shopkeeper Apu Nahasapeemapetilon have changed?
On the occasion of the 700th episode of the "Simpsons", which was broadcast in the USA on Monday, Simpsons maker Matt Groening spoke to "USA Today" and also commented on Apu.
"We have plans for Apu, but we have to see if we can make the stories work," said Groening.
There had been repeated accusations of racism around Apu.
Critics accused Hank Azaria, the character's longtime voice actor, of a clichéd portrayal because he exaggerated the Indian accent.
At the beginning of 2020, Azaria gave up the setting.
Last summer, the "Simpsons" makers had declared that non-white figures would generally no longer be spoken of as whites.
The first role was newly cast in September, and actor Alex Désert has since lent his voice to Homer Simpson's work colleague Carl Carlson.
Azaria had also taken on this role before.
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Matt Groening (2019): "I think the Apu stories are fantastic"
Photo: Image Group LA / Getty Images
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon hadn't appeared on the series since losing his voice.
A new voice actor for the character has not yet been found, but they are working on "something quite ambitious," said the comic artist.
And: "That's all I can say."
When asked about the controversy surrounding the character and its stereotypical portrayal, Groening said, “I think the Apu stories are fantastic, he's one of the most nuanced characters in a silly two-dimensional cartoon series.
So, yes, I'm proud of Apu. "
"There is no end in sight"
The idea of no longer using white voice actors for setting non-white figures to music was not his, but he was "okay with it."
Who could be against diversity? Groening asked, but also emphasized that the actors had not been brought in to play certain characters: “They were hired to play every character we could think of.
For me the amazing thing is to see all of our brilliant actors who can imitate multiple voices.
That's part of the fun in animation. ”And yet: being more inclusive, engaging more people,“ I'm absolutely up for that ”.
In any case, according to Groening, it would have been smart to make the cast more diverse earlier.
An end to the "Simpsons" is currently not in sight for him, said Groening.
“Every time I speculate about the end of the show, the people who work on it and the die-hard fans get really angry.
So I always say: there is no end in sight. "
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