As Twitchy reported last weekend, “The Simpsons” took on the controversy over Indian-American character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon as spelled out in the 2017 documentary written by and starring comic Hari Kondabolu.
“The Simpsons” took a pass, having SJW character Lisa Simpson break the fourth wall and announce, “something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive, is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”
All these years I thought the Simpsons were yellow, yet last Sunday they reached peak whiteness.
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 10, 2018
@theharryshearer voices a character named "Waylon Smithers" who happens to be gay. Should the gay community be offended by this since Harry Shearer isn't gay, and doesn't know what it's like? Everyone is different, that's the beauty of comedy, and you can't see that. Ironic!
— Jason Berg (@JasonBe85443097) April 10, 2018
“Simpsons” voice actor Harry Shearer got tagged into the conversation with that tweet.
Bart, a pre-pubescent boy, is played by an adult woman. What's up with that?
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) April 10, 2018
Mr. Shearer, I completely agree with your response. It's unfortunately getting to that point: anyone, can get offended by anything. You voice so many other characters, but based on @harikondabolu 's logic, if you don't fit the character's description in any way, it's offensive.
— Jason Berg (@JasonBe85443097) April 13, 2018
By that logic, Mel Blanc could have done the voice of Porky, because he wasn't a talking pig.
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) April 13, 2018
Uh oh … that tweet from Friday earned Shearer a lecture from Kondabolu.
Simpsons legend Harry Shearer: The key difference here is that South Asians are not animals, but HUMAN BEINGS w/ complex experiences & ideas. Also, Hank’s crappy accent is based on the brown face of Peter Sellers. Sellars derived his accent from the Indian State of Bullshit-istan https://t.co/YSPbHXzDjS
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 13, 2018
A lot of people on Twitter called out Shearer and the rest of the “Simpsons” cast over his “Porky Pig” tweet.
It’s 2018 and folks still don’t understand that cultural stereotypes are not animals or inanimate objects – Jesus. https://t.co/3A37D7l015
— Sarah (@RebelNapoli) April 13, 2018
Wow. Harry Shearer really compared Apu to Porky Pig. These Caucasian contortionists could populate a circus. https://t.co/toznc7qURc
— Suleikha Snyder (@suleikhasnyder) April 14, 2018
Hey @theharryshearer go eff yourself https://t.co/ve6YpHWL1D
— Asif (@aok5557) April 13, 2018
guys I think we might have to accept that harry shearer is an asshole https://t.co/9sGhnfUxjw
— (((wheatjerm))) (@MrJeremyM) April 14, 2018
The Simpsons crew need to stop, you guys are being really ugly. #stfu #thesimpsons #TheProblemWithApu https://t.co/H1cKTbcuGr
— Naomi MacRoss (@NaomiMac_Ross) April 13, 2018
It's just amazing to me that the Simpons is still trying to defend this https://t.co/jEEw7u3yfJ
— Nostrathomas would be a good rap name (@thmswlf) April 13, 2018
@harikondabolu I can see why Harry Shearer was reluctant to say that shit 1) to your face 2) on camera, because Jesus how repugnant it is… https://t.co/aS1BxB0vD9
— AnnaAnastasia (@AnnaAnastasia) April 14, 2018
man, I experienced the whole feelbad rainbow when I realized Kondabolu was addressing Shearer here and not quoting him. Of all the Simpsons cast members, Shearer's the one I'd expect to actually be on the right side of this. https://t.co/a8lg2guYGB
— the phlegmatic king (@keithpille) April 14, 2018
People need to recognize how much of the South Asian stereotype is formed from our supposed accent. This “accent” is what is used as a tool not to only mock us but to oppress us and make us consistently feel inferior and other. https://t.co/wzekaKFzUb
— Okay GuGu (@guguspeaks) April 13, 2018
Wow are they really that dense? Can no one with the show just be like “OKAY OUR BAD”?! https://t.co/xOCDe034c3
— Aditya Desai (@atwittya) April 14, 2018
It is REMARKABLE how quickly my heretofore undying love for this show is crumbling, bit by bit. https://t.co/MfOIBxZsBS
— Rusty Shackleford ? (@sharjem) April 13, 2018
@TheSimpsons continues to double down on this. Never seen the show and never will but the documentary does a great job of articulating the impact of these racist portrayals. DO BETTER. #WhitePrivilege https://t.co/i67ZZ9Kswc
— Jennifer Root (@fielder84) April 13, 2018
The Simpsons should deal with this like Looney Tunes: this was something that in the past was considered okay, but we have the power to change it now, because it’s right. https://t.co/ap25bbeMBK
— Ken Decore (@kdecore) April 14, 2018
the degree of offensiveness of apu aside, it takes the simpsons over a year to produce an episode, so to get an adequate response from the characters within the show takes at least that long. i think lisa's 2 sentences are a prelude of something due next season. change takes time https://t.co/GjJrMHznOB
— shiny bear (@shinyfromlot) April 14, 2018
Or maybe not?
I mean…come on dude. This is just sad .https://t.co/gQS1XhDBBM
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) April 13, 2018
This is what someone who is absolutely determined to be offended looks like. https://t.co/fV6ukYcUW8
— GoodbyeGOP (@bblunt4) April 14, 2018
This is a big part of what’s wrong with these arguments. Hari takes a point. @theharryshearer disagrees. But he’s not supposed to. You either agree with a Progressive or they treat you like you’re wrong, NOT like you simply have a different view. https://t.co/G1FCxqiUXd
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) April 14, 2018
Would you stop. Nobody thinks Asian Indians are Apu from the Simpsons. Go find something serious to complain about. https://t.co/vzZ34ccQv4
— DangerZone (@im_dangerzone) April 14, 2018
Thist thread is a black hole of comedy. https://t.co/6Rttyyj1xn
— Notorious Augusto P (@GenAugustoP) April 14, 2018
At this point, Hari has basically turned into Grandpa Simpson. pic.twitter.com/E0LyvxtZqI
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) April 13, 2018
Related:
Writer troubled that the 'real' Lisa Simpson would never have dismissed 'the problem with Apu' https://t.co/T791eyeY2y
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 9, 2018
