As Twitchy reported earlier, “The Simpsons” on Sunday night gave a nod to the controversy set forth in Hari Kondabolu’s documentary “The Problem with Apu.”
In the episode, Marge sets out to sanitize her favorite children’s book, which she realizes as she reads it to daughter Lisa is anything but politically correct by modern standards. The camera cuts to a picture of Indian-American Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, as Lisa notes, “something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive, is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”
The Simpsons could have defended problematic Apu, or caved to political correctness and apologized. They did neither, instead charting a conflicted and thoughtful middle ground, even making fun of their own indecision.
Critics: BURN THE WITCH. https://t.co/KNY51u7qhK
— Robby Soave (@robbysoave) April 9, 2018
New York Times culture writer Sopan Deb noted that the episode chose to deal with the controversy by dismissing it within a joke:
At the end of 2017, Hank Azaria responded to criticism of Apu from @harikondabolu as "upsetting." So the show finally responded last night.
With dismissal. https://t.co/WUXAMApnT7 pic.twitter.com/eo8HYg6MnC
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) April 9, 2018
Also upset that the show dismissed the controversy was i09 writer Beth Elderkin, who found it cruel that the issue would be dismissed with a shrug, which the “real” Lisa Simpson would never have done.
The Simpsons dismissing The Problem With Apu as "political correctness" was bad enough, but having it come from Lisa Simpson felt cruel.
Lisa has always been about open-mindedness and re-examining her values when challenged by perspective.
Real Lisa would not approve. pic.twitter.com/FpmAArAcUe— Beth Elderkin (@BethElderkin) April 9, 2018
"Real Lisa" https://t.co/U1LFMc8SKp
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) April 9, 2018
“Real Lisa” is not a person pic.twitter.com/RTOqsEH0Bb
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 9, 2018
Spoiler alert: There is no "Real Lisa" https://t.co/IPReXzyYUR
— David Starsky (@DetDavidStarsky) April 9, 2018
Hi Beth,
Lisa isn't real. https://t.co/fPSk6OnARh
— RBe (@RBPundit) April 9, 2018
"Real" Lisa is a cartoon character. What are you, 5? https://t.co/Y2jsHxJKo2
— ☂️It's Happening!☂️ (@KateDaGreat1111) April 9, 2018
There ?is ? no ? Real ? Lisa ? these ? are ? all ? cartoon ? characters ? https://t.co/cRVuQ3gdwV
— Confíteor Deo omnipoténti (@ConfiteorDeo) April 9, 2018
Tfw your entire intellectual movement hinges on a fictional 7 y/o girl https://t.co/UUjLORhPT3
— F. Bill McMorris (@FBillMcMorris) April 9, 2018
This is an example of what is known as "headcanon". https://t.co/XEu7Ux3Qjq
— Þe Political Hat, Proud Kyriarch (@ThePoliticalHat) April 9, 2018
lol Lisa is fake and she's created by the same people who created Apu ??? https://t.co/b82hXbTi7O
— Jordan Gonzalez ? (@JordoGonzo) April 9, 2018
Stewie Griffin could not be reached for comment. https://t.co/UcKTphLVuF
— Crazy Train (@csonkaguy) April 9, 2018
Or maybe she's the open-minded one here, not you. Also: there is no "Real Lisa" but there are lots of crazy people on Twitter. https://t.co/7EyjiHgRK8
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) April 9, 2018
This implies Lisa would want a community member removed for his racial presentation. No she wouldn’t. That’s the antithesis of sensitivity and inclusion. https://t.co/DgytZcgq18
— Yosei, Knight of Queen Sectonia (@YoseiSovereign) April 9, 2018
Remember: someone who is "open minded" and "re-examines their values" will inevitably conclude that progressives are right. These same critical thinking skills could never lead in the other direction – when that happens, we call it "close-mindedness" https://t.co/F0SZ01iGZu
— Nicholas Phillips (@czar_nicholas_) April 9, 2018
People who claim to be open-minded, never will recognize when they're wrong. https://t.co/nwTdcywT8s
— Notorious Augusto P (@GenAugustoP) April 9, 2018
Lisa Simpson is a parody for people who are up tight, snobbish, and are constantly in their bubble. Well, like 95% of Twitter. https://t.co/ElXOs1wSBf
— Mark™ (@MG92_2) April 9, 2018
Related:
'Thank you, come again!' The Simpsons flips the bird to sad SJW whining about Apu's character https://t.co/YO2e46Z351
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 9, 2018
