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Hank Azaria performed the voice of Apu, the Indian Kwik-e-Mart manager on The Simpsons, since the show started. But then a wider discussion started to take place about whether it was appropriate for white actors to voice characters of color.

This cumulated in a 2017 documentary, The Problem With Apu, by Indian comedian Hari Kondabolu. Kondabolu believed the portrayal of Apu was racist against South Asians and a lightning rod for bullying. Though The Simpsons pushed back against the accusation, going so far as to release an episode where the characters comment on how past works can be seen as "politically incorrect," Azaria announced in 2020 that he would not be playing Apu anymore.

Now, he's spoken about that decision on an episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out. It's been a long and interesting journey for Azaria, and one where he's explored how things previously seen as innocuous can become offensive later on.

Hank Azaria has been in the news a lot lately, thanks to his recent New York Times op-ed, in which he opposed the idea of A.I. technology stealing his voice one day, and also because of his second career as a Bruce Springsteen impersonator — which, come to think of it, is just a more old-fashioned way of stealing someone’s voice.

Azaria was recently the subject of a Washington Post profile, which discussed his “Hank Azaria and the Ez Street Band” concert tour as well as his work on The Simpsons. The article also noted that Azaria is currently developing his own one-man show “in which he hopes to tackle it all,” including his struggle with alcoholism, his subsequent recovery and the controversy surrounding Apu.

As most people are already aware, Azaria’s portrayal of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons was the subject of comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu,...

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for The Simpsons season 36, episode 9, "Homer and Her Sisters."

Although Moe finally seemed to find happiness a few seasons ago, The Simpsons season 36 proves that viewers should not be anticipating wedding bells quite yet. The Simpsons season 37’s renewal has not yet been announced, but the series isn’t struggling despite its longevity. If anything, The Simpsons seems to be enjoying a critical renaissance as everyone from Vulture to YouTube creator SuperEyepatchWolf declared the long-running show “Good again.” The Simpsons season 36’s willingness to change the show’s format and rewrite its established lore plays a major role in this recent spate of critical acclaim.

Related All 9 The Simpsons Characters Played By Pamela Hayden, Milhouse's Voice Actor

Milhouse's voice actor Pamela Hayden recently announced her retirement from The Simpsons, but Bart's best friend isn't her only memorable character.

Experimental efforts like The Simpsons season...

Hank Azaria’s current vocal character is the first one that’s ever made him throw up out of nervousness before a performance — but that also could have been the Kwik-e Mart hot dog.

The Manhattan-born Simpsons star has always been a vocal-cord chameleon, and he has mastered a massive and diverse spectrum of characters, from Moe Szyslak to Chief Wiggum to, until 2020, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a role that Azaria famously retired in the wake of comedian Hari Kondabolu’s feature-length documentary callout The Problem with Apu. However, when Azaria agreed to give up his non-white voice parts on The Simpsons, he never signed anything preventing him from impersonating a New Jerseyan — even the Boss of the bunch isn’t off-limits, apparently.

For the past few months, Azaria has been hard at work developing his Bruce Springsteen impression as the front man of Hank Azaria and the Ez Street Band, a...

The cantankerous barkeep Moe Szyslak (Hank Azaria), the overseer of Springfield's most depressing dive bar, first appeared in the pilot for "The Simpsons" serving multiple beers to Homer (Dan Castellaneta), a functional alcoholic. Moe was the worst kind of barkeeper, unwilling or unable to make his bar much better than a local watering hole, and eager to crack out a shotgun when the going got rough. Moe, however, is not above celebrating the successes of his clientele. When Homer and his wife Marge (Julie Kavner) reconcile in the bar, Moe announces that, for the next 15 minutes, everyone gets a third off every pitcher. 

The writers of "The Simpsons" began dropping hints as to Moe's inner life. In one episode, he is seen taking a naturalization test, implying that he immigrated. In another, Moe is seen hiding an orca in the back of his bar for reasons that are never adequately explained.

Harry Shearer has voiced dozens of characters on Fox’s “The Simpsons,” from Mr. Burns to Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner, but he was replaced as the voice of Springfield physician Dr. Hibbert when producers of the show vowed in 2020 to no longer have white actors voice characters of color. Shearer recently reflected on the change during an interview with The Times of London.

“Folk say the show has become woke in recent years and one of my characters has been affected,” Shearer said. “I voiced the Black physician, Dr. Hibbert, who I based on Bill Cosby. Back then he was known as the ‘whitest Black man on television.’ Then, a couple of years ago, I received an email saying they’d employed a Black actor, who then copied my voice. The result is a Black man imitating a white man imitating the whitest Black man on TV.”

Shearer appeared to question his re-casting,...

The King of the Hill revival may recast the character Kahn, acknowledging the debate surrounding White actors voicing characters of different races. Co-creator Greg Daniels confirms that if Kahn returns, Toby Huss will not voice the character, reflecting the changing reality of voice casting. Back in 1997, casting decisions were made based on budget constraints, but now there is a greater emphasis on diversity and representation.

According to co-creator Greg Daniels, King of the Hill will recast Kahn if the character appears in the revival. First announced in January 2023 and planned for the Hulu streaming service, the upcoming revival will see several actors reprising their voice roles. Those returning include Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Stephen Root, Pamela Adlon, and Lauren Tom. The character of Kahn Souphanousinphone, a Laotian man who appears throughout the original, will sound different if he comes back.

Speaking with TVLine, Daniels addressed the subject of recasting Kahn...

With 750 episodes of The Simpsons aired – and who knows how many more in the pipeline – the iconic show has seen its share of controversies: people having a cow over Bart’s bad boy persona, then-president George H.W. Bush attacking the show for its lack of wholesomeness, and on and on through its 34-season history. But one of the biggest controversies arose over Indian Kwik-e-Mart proprietor Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, voiced by white actor Hank Azaria.

In 2020, Hank Azaria announced that he would stop voicing Apu, citing the racial insensitivity and stereotyping that had been pointed out for years, even being the subject of a documentary called The Problem with Apu. Stepping down from the role wasn’t easy for Azaria, who told The Independent, “On the one hand, I didn’t want to cave to so-called ‘PC pressure’ or ‘the woke mob’ – whatever you want to call it. On the other hand,...

Priyanka Chopra Jonas opens up about the impact Apu from The Simpsons had on her as a child. Chopra Jonas is currently the star of the new Prime Video spy series Citadel, alongside Stanley Tucci and Richard Madden. She also has a movie in theaters with Love Again, costarring Outlander's Sam Heughan. The Simpsons, which started in 1989 and is currently airing season 34, focuses on numerous side characters outside the core family. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the owner of Springfield's Kwik-e-Mart convenience store, was a prominent side character throughout much of the show's run before experiencing some controversy, which saw the character slowly fade away.

While speaking with British Vogue, Chopra Jonas opened up about how The Simpsons' portrayal of Apu deeply affected her as a child, calling it "the bane of my life."

With The Simpsons becoming such an iconic show, Apu became a commonly seen, stereotypical portrayal of an Indian accent,...

For the longest time, it has not been clear whether The Simpsons will bring back Apu, but Hank Azaria's recent comments imply that this plan can never happen. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is a deeply divisive character. Played by Hank Azaria, the Indian American store owner was a major recurring character in The Simpsons throughout the show’s first three decades on the air. In 2017, comedian Hari Kondabolu released the documentary The Problem With Apu, which focused on the impact that Apu had on Indian-American representation in media. While South Park soon produced an episode addressing this controversy, the creators of The Simpsons were slower to comment.

As of The Simpsons season 34, Apu has not appeared in a speaking role for over half a decade. The Simpsons season 29, episode 1, “The Serfsons,” marked Apu’s last voiced appearance in the series, although he did appear as a background character in later outings.

Hank Azaria and Hari Kondabolu are finally getting a chance to have a public conversation about the latter’s documentary The Problem With Apu.

During an episode of NPR’s podcast Code Switch, Azaria joined Kondabolu to discuss the comedian and writer’s 2017 project that criticized the Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon as a South Asian stereotype and called out the fact that a white actor voiced him. Azaria had voiced the Kwik-e-Mart employee since the long-running comedy’s first season before announcing in early 2020 that he would no longer portray the character. The show has not recast the role.

Kondabolu told Azaria that he had wanted to have him appear in the truTV documentary in the hopes that this would discourage angry reactions to the film, in addition to giving the discussion closure. Kondabolu recalled feeling upset when the actor opted against appearing in The Problem With Apu, which Kondabolu wrote and Michael Melamedoff directed.

King of the Hill is coming back to TV, thanks to a Hulu revival, with most of the original cast returning — but there’s one character who’s conspicuously missing.

Hank, Peggy, Bobby, Bill, Dale and Boomhauer will all be back and voiced by the same actors from the original 1997-2009 Fox run of the animated comedy. Hank’s niece Luanne is understandably absent, since Brittany Murphy tragically passed away in 2009. But Hank’s nemesis Kahn, the status-chasing Laotian dad who moved in next door, is nowhere to be found in the revival. And there’s an obvious reason why: Kahn was an Asian character,...

Actor-producer Daniel Dae Kim urged those of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to work hard at “allyship” with other underrepresented communities in order to focus on the roots of systemic racism. Kim spoke on May 20 at a half-day virtual seminar hosted by Amazon Studios to examine Api representation in film and media as part of Asian American Pacific Islander heritage month.

The rising tide of anti-Asian hate crimes underscores the urgency to act. But Asian Americans in general represent about 6% of the U.S. population, which means that Aapi advocates need to build bridges with Black and brown communities, Kim said during Amazon’s “Voices: Api Representation in Film & Media.”

“It’s going to take more than just us,” said Kim, the actor known for “Lost,” “Hawaii 5-0” and, most recently, NBC’s “New Amsterdam.” “It’s important that we find allies in every other demographic. And part of accepting allyship is being an ally.

Hari Kondabolu appeared virtually on Thursday at an Amazon Studios event, accentuating the importance of Asian & Pacific Islander Representation In Film & Media. There, he delivered a “Lightning Talk,” in which he addressed complaints among comics of a politically correct world, and his hopes for more diverse and inclusive media.

In his pre-recorded speech, the comedian and filmmaker behind acclaimed 2017 doc The Problem with Apu argued that stand-up comedy is “the freest art form,” and that that has never been more true than it is today, despite what some comics are saying. This is true because today, comics from underrepresented communities can speak their mind or hit back, when racist or intolerant jokes are made—whereas in the past, a power imbalance existed that prevented them from doing so. “As a stand-up, you should be able to talk about whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean there’s not repercussions,...

Hank Azaria stepped down from voicing controversial “The Simpsons” character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon last year. The voice actor recently opened up about the lessons he learned about whitewashing and promoting stereotypes during a recent interview on the “Armchair Expert” podcast.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Azaria, who is white, stated that he participated in several seminars to understand the controversy surrounding the character and offered several anecdotes that helped inform his decision to quit voicing the character.

“I was speaking at my son’s school, I was talking to the Indian kids there because I wanted to get their input,” Azaria said. “A 17-year-old […] he’s never even seen ‘The Simpsons’ but knows what Apu means. It’s practically a slur at this point. All he knows is that is how his people are thought of and represented to many people in this country.”

Apu, an Indian immigrant character in the show who runs a Kwik-e-Mart business,...

Hank Azaria has issued an apology for voicing Kwik-e-Mart owner Apu on “The Simpsons,” a controversial role he played for 30 years despite Apu being Indian.

“I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that,” Azaria said. “Part of me feels I need to go round to every single Indian person in this country and apologize.”

Azaria, who began voicing the convenience store owner in 1990, spoke about the recent controversies surrounding his character on Dax Shepherd’s “Armchair Expert” podcast. In January 2020, he stepped down from voicing Apu on “The Simpsons.” The voice actor insists the character was created with good intentions but said there were real negative consequences to the portrayal.

“I really didn’t know any better,” Azaria said. “I didn’t think about it. I was unaware of how much relative advantage I had received in this country as a white kid from Queens.”

Azaria...

On Monday’s episode of the Armchair Expert podcast, The Simpsons actor Hank Azaria apologized for participating in “structural racism,” via his longtime portrayal of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.

While the Emmy winner continues to voice other parts on the Fox comedy, including Moe Szyslak, and gave voice to Apu from his first appearance on the show in 1990, he announced in February of last year that he would no longer be playing the role. The decision emerged as part of a broad cultural shift in animation, as the industry came to the belief that characters of color should not be voiced by white actors, with other Simpsons roles also being recast.

In the course of his conversation with Armchair Experts hosts Dax Shephard and Monica Padman, Azaria said that he wished he’d committed to exiting the Apu role many years before he actually did. “I’ve had a date with destiny...

Hank Azaria is on an apology tour for his decades of voicing the former “Simpsons” character, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.

“I really do apologize,” Azaria said on a recent episode of the podcast, “Armchair Expert” hosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman. “It’s important. I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do.”

While Apu has long been a fan favorite on “The Simpsons,” his impact on pop culture and depictions of Indian people in media came under scrutiny because of the 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu.” In it, director Hari Kondabolu, himself a lifelong Simpsons fan, reflects on his personal feelings for a character that for many years was the only depiction of Indian and Hindu culture on American television. But Kondabolu also...

Hank Azaria was a recent guest on the Armchair Expert podcast, where he discussed several topics, including the lessons he learned from playing the controversial Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons.

The long-running Indian character on the iconic Fox cartoon came under fire in recent years (including in 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu) due to the character’s racially stereotypical behavior, compounded by the fact that he was voiced by a Caucasian actor.

Azaria told podcast hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman that he took time to learn more about what people were feeling — taking several seminars — and to understand why the character is ...

Hank Azaria was a recent guest on the Armchair Expert podcast, where he discussed several topics, including the lessons he learned from playing the controversial Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons.

The long-running Indian character on the iconic Fox cartoon came under fire in recent years (including in a 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu) due to the character’s racially stereotypical behavior, compounded by the fact that he was voiced by a caucasian actor.

Azaria told podcast hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman that he took time to learn more about what people were feeling — taking several seminars — and to understand why the character is ...

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon might’ve lost his longtime voice actor, but the team behind “The Simpsons” has plans to bring the character back in the future.

Series creator Matt Groening told USA Today in an interview published Monday, in celebration of the show’s 700th episode, that his team has “something kind of ambitious” in the works for the character following Hank Azaria stepping down as the voice of Apu.

“The Simpsons” and Apu, an Indian immigrant character in the show who runs a Kwik-e-Mart business, had courted controversy for several years due to Apu’s characterization, which has been criticized as a racial stereotype. Much of the controversy stemmed from comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 “The Problem With Apu” documentary, which outlined the various negative stereotypes and treatment of Apu. The issue eventually led to Azaria, who is white, no longer voicing the character.

Groening did not offer specific details about...

While “The Simpsons” has sidelined Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the Indian immigrant owner of the Kwik-e-Mart, until a new voice actor can be found, creator Matt Groening says he’s still proud of the character and hopes to bring him back for “something ambitious” in future seasons.

“I think the Apu stories are fantastic, and he’s one of the most nuanced characters on a silly two-dimensional cartoon show. So, yeah, I’m proud of Apu,” Groening told USA Today.

While Apu has long been a fan favorite on “The Simpsons,” his impact on pop culture and depictions of Indian people in media came under scrutiny because of the 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu.” In it, director Hari Kondabolu, himself a lifelong Simpsons fan, reflects on his personal feelings for a character that for many years was the only depiction of Indian and Hindu culture on American television. But Kondabolu also argues...

In the latest win for inclusive voice casting in animation, Harry Shearer is stepping down from voicing Dr. Hibbert on “The Simpsons” (via The Wrap.) The character, who first appeared in the 1990 second season of the iconic series, will be voiced by beloved voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson, best known for voicing Cleveland Brown Jr. on Seth MacFarlane’s “Family Guy” and “The Cleveland Show.” The change will go into effect as of next week’s episode, according to a statement from “Simpsons” studio 20th Television.

Shearer’s exit comes about eight months after a June 2020 announcement in solidarity with the George Floyd protests that “The Simpsons” would no longer voice Black characters with white actors. “Moving forward, ‘The Simpsons’ will no longer have white actors voice nonwhite characters,” the network said in a brief statement at the time.

Dr. Hibbert is not the most notorious case of cross-racial voice casting on “The Simpsons.

White voice actor Harry Shearer will no longer voice Black character Dr. Hibbert on “The Simpsons,” TheWrap has learned, and is being replaced with a Black voice actor.

“Last night’s episode ‘DiaryQueen’ featured Harry Shearer as the voice of Dr. Hibbert for the last time,” “Simpsons” studio 20th Television said in a statement to TheWrap on Monday. “Next Sunday’s episode ‘Wad Goals’ will have Kevin Michael Richardson voicing Dr. Hibbert — and from there on out he will voice the character.”

Shearer had voiced the character of Hibbert since the show’s second season in 1990. He declined through a Fox representative TheWrap’s request for comment on stepping back from the role.

The recasting of Hibbert comes after Fox said last June that “The Simpsons” will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters on the animated series.

“Moving forward, ‘The Simpsons’ will no longer have white actors voice nonwhite characters,...

Exclusive: Shawtane Bowen and Jerah Milligan, two of the members of the Astronomy Club comedy troupe, are teaming up again on a comedy about an all-Black detective agency for HBO Max.

The streamer is developing the untitled project with The Problem With Apu producer Cowboy Bear Ninja Productions.

Created by Bowen and Milligan, the comedy follows a group of self-described sleuths who unite to create Harlem’s last all-Black detective agency after an outbreak of petty crimes goes unsolved.

The pair previously starred in the Astronomy Club sketch show, which aired on Netflix.

Deadline revealed the project in June, which Bowen said the show had been informed by living in Harlem for eight years. “I had a lot of interactions with the cops,” he told Deadline. “I thought it’d be interesting to do a show on Harlem’s first and last all black detective agency.”

Milligan added that they...

Three years ago, Hari Kondabolu released a documentary called The Problem with Apu, which snowballed into a years-long discussion about The Simpsons and the racial stereotypes it may have perpetuated with a mostly white writer’s room and voice cast. Earlier this year, it resulted in Hank Azaria stepping down from voicing Apu to leave room for an actual Indian actor to […]

The post ‘The Simpsons’ Replaces Hank Azaria With Alex Désert as the Voice of Carl in Season 32 Premiere appeared first on /Film.

Homer Simpson’s African American nuclear plant supervisor Carl Carlson will be voiced by Alex Désert on The Simpsons season 32 premiere, according to Variety.

There is now word yet on whether Désert will continue to voice the character beyond Sunday’s episode “Undercover Burns.” Désert is a veteran animation voice actor, appearing as Swarm on Disney Xd’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom, Mr. Bojenkins on Adult Swim’s Mr. Pickles and its spinoff, Momma Named Me Sheriff, and on The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. He was a regular on the TV series Becker, which starred Ted Danson, and appeared on such varied shows as Boy Meets World, Better Call Saul, and Better Things. He also appeared in films like The Flash, Freaky Friday, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, High Fidelity and Swingers.

“We are very pleased to welcome Alex Désert, playing Carl in The Simpsons’ season premiere,...

The break-room chatter at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant will sound a little different when The Simpsons returns for Season 32 on Sunday (Fox, 8/7c).

More specifically, Homer’s co-worker Carl Carlson — formerly voiced by longtime cast member Hank Azaria — will now be voiced by Alex Désert (pictured right), TVLine has confirmed. It’s not yet known whether Desert will continue to voice the character beyond the premiere.

More from TVLineFamily Guy Premiere Finally Explains Who Can Understand Stewie -- WatchFamily Guy Reveals New Actor Voicing Cleveland Brown in Season 19Bob's Burgers Video: Season 11 Premiere Reunites Bob With an Old Friend...

“The Simpsons” has found its new Carl Carlson.

In the season premiere of Fox’s long-running animated comedy, Carl is voiced by Alex Désert, who takes over the role from Hank Azaria. Fox said in June it would no longer have white actors voice people of color.

Azaria, who voices numerous characters for “The Simpsons” is stepping back from the role. Mike Henry made a similar decision when he stepped down as the voice of Cleveland Brown on “Family Guy.”

Azaria had voiced Carl, who is Black, since the show’s beginning. It is not clear if Désert will be the permanent voice for the character going forward. “We are very pleased to welcome Alex Désert, playing Carl in ‘The Simpsons’ season premiere,” the show said in a statement.

This is not the first time “The Simpsons” has had to reckon with race in voice casting. Azaria announced back in...

“The Simpsons” fans might notice at least one long-running character sounds a little different in Sunday’s Season 32 premiere.

In the episode, Carl Carlson — Homer Simpson’s nuclear plant co-worker, and best friend to Lenny Leonard — is now voiced by actor Alex Désert (“Better Things”). Désert replaces Hank Azaria in the role, at least for that episode.

The switch comes as “The Simpsons” producers confirmed earlier this summer that it would no longer have white actors voice non-white characters. Azaria had voiced Carl, who is Black, since the beginning of the show.

It’s unclear whether Désert is Carl’s permanent voice, and if he’ll be voicing other characters as well. Among other recurring characters the edict might impact include Dr. Julius Hibbert, who is seen in the episode, but doesn’t speak.

Désert also voices Swarm on Disney Xd’s “Spider-Man: Maximum Venom” and Mr. Bojenkins on Adult Swim...

Harry Shearer, a longtime voice actor on the animated sitcom The Simpsons, is not on board with the executive decision to stop letting white actors portray non-white characters. According to Shearer, who voices an array of roles from the white Mr. Burns to the African-American doctor Julius Hibbert, this decision goes against everything that being an actor stands for.

“I have a very simple belief about acting,” Shearer said on Monday during an interview with Times Radio. “The job of an actor is to play someone who they’re not.” The voice actor went on to say that he was not “opining” the actions of his superiors. Rather, he was merely trying to make a statement about his craft.

Shearer then clarified that he was supportive of the campaign to make Hollywood a more diverse and inclusive place. “People from all backgrounds should be represented in the writing and producing...

The Simpsons actor Harry Shearer, who gives voice to characters ranging from elderly miser Mr. Burns to the unflappable African-American physician Dr. Julius Hibbert, isn’t quite in agreement with the long-running show’s recent decision to stop using white actors for non-white characters.

“I have a very simple belief about acting,” Shearer said Monday during an interview on Times Radio. “The job of the actor is to play someone who they’re not.”

The issue has been a source of debate with regard to Fox’s The Simpsons since Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu and last year’s announcement by Hank Azaria, Apu’s portrayer, to step away from the role.

Though Shearer pointed out that he was not “opining” on whether the producers’ recent decision was a mistake, the actor said about playing a range of characters, “That’s the gig. That’s the job description.

Apple’s “Central Park” animated series is feeling more like a “Hamilton” reunion by the second.

Exactly a month after Kristen Bell announced she was stepping away from voicing the mixed-race character Molly, Apple has found her replacement in the form of “Hamilton” alumna and “Umbrella Academy” star Emmy Raver-Lampman.

She will become the show’s third prominent former “Hamilton” cast member, joining Leslie Odom Jr. (who plays Molly’s father Owen Tillerman) and Daveed Diggs (who voices the assistant to Stanley Tucci’s tyrannical Bitsy Brandenham).

The re-casting comes amid a racial reckoning in the animated space, which has seen multiple white actors stop voicing characters of color.

Bell’s removal from the role was announced in late June via a lengthy statement from the show’s creative team, which said that “casting of the character of Molly is an opportunity to get representation right – to cast a Black...

“The Office,” “Family Guy,” and “The Simpsons” are the latest television shows to make changes amid the nation’s ongoing protests regarding systemic racism and police brutality.

The Wrap reports that a Season 9 episode of “The Office,” titled “Dwight’s Christmas,” has been edited to remove a scene where a character engages in blackface. The old version of the episode has been removed from Netflix and will not appear on Peacock when the series moves to NBCUniversal’s streaming service next year. The old version of the episode will be replaced with the updated version for syndication airings, according to the publication.

“‘The Office’ is about a group of people trying to work together with mutual respect despite the inappropriate actions of their boss and assistant manager,” series creator Greg Daniels said in a statement to The Wrap. “The show employed satire to expose unacceptable behavior and deliver a message of inclusion.

Back in 2017, comedian Hari Kondabolu made an extremely thoughtful and reasoned documentary titled The Problem With Apu, pointing out that the Indian-American character Apu is a harmful racial stereotype that The Simpsons has been happily perpetuating for literal decades. In fact, Kondabolu goes so far as to call Apu a minstrel character, and it’s hard to disagree with him. It seems like the show has finally decided to listen, and from now on will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters. [caption id="…...

The controversy surrounding The Simpsons‘ Apu has really heated up in recent years. Though he’s often viewed as a beloved resident of Springfield, 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu brought up some serious questions about whether such a stereotypical Indian-American character should still be allowed on a celebrated TV show like The Simpsons. Since then, the producers have come under fire for failing to respond to the controversy. But that all changed several months ago.

Yes, in news that sent fans reeling, star Hank Azaria revealed that he won’t be voicing the Kwik-e-Mart proprietor any longer. But now, the series has gone one step further and announced that no longer will white actors be allowed to voice non-white characters. In a statement released earlier today, the producers said:

“Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters.”

This comes hot on the heels of Family Guy...

“The Simpsons” won’t have any repeats of Hank Azaria voicing Apu.

The producers behind the show issued a statement Friday saying that from now on, its characters of color will be voiced by actors of color only.

“Moving forward, ‘The Simpsons’ will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” the statement read.

News of the decision comes less than an hour after Mike Henry announced he will no longer voice the character of Cleveland Brown on fellow Fox animated comedy “Family Guy.”

“The Simpsons” has been subject to heavy criticism over the last few years on this issue, most notably over Azaria playing the Indian character Apu, and this statement represents a substantial shift from the producers’ historical stance on the matter. Azaria announced that he was stepping away from voicing the character in January. Calls for him to do so intensified following the 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu,...

“The Simpsons” will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters on the show, Fox announced on Friday.

“Moving forward, ‘The Simpsons’ will no longer have white actors voice nonwhite characters,” the network said in a brief statement.

The pledge follows the announcement by “Family Guy” star Mike Henry earlier on Friday that he would step away from the Fox sitcom as the longtime voice of the Black character Cleveland Brown.

Also Read: 'Family Guy' Actor Mike Henry Will No Longer Voice Black Character

This is not the first time “The Simpsons” has had to reckon with race in voice casting. Hank Azaria announced back in January that he would stop voicing the Indian American convenience-store proprietor Apu Nahasapeemapetilon after taking heavy criticism, including in a 2017 documentary titled “The Problem With Apu” by comedian Hari Kondabolu.

“My eyes have been opened,” Azaria said in an interview about the criticism at the time.

Mike Henry is exiting his role as Cleveland Brown on “Family Guy.”

Henry made the announcement Friday on Twitter. “It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years,” he wrote. “I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color. Therefore, I will be stepping down from the role.”

Henry has been with “Family Guy” since its first season in 1999. In addition to Cleveland, he also voices Consuela, a Latina maid, on the long-running animated series in addition to numerous other minor characters. Henry also voiced Cleveland and his Black stepson, Rallo Tubbs, on the spin-off series “The Cleveland Show,” which aired on Fox for four seasons from 2009 to 2013.

He is now the latest white actor to announce they will no longer voice a character of color on an animated show. Jenny Slate announced on Wednesday that she would no longer play the...

You know when someone is about to do something they shouldn't and they have one moment for a pithy remark, so they always say something like, "I'd rather ask for forgiveness than get permission"? That's basically how Hollywood has always operated when it comes to casting white people in roles that could go to a person of color. The same goes for voice acting, though many find it irrational to throw judgment because it's just someone's voice, not their actual person. Then, when the societal climate changes and the industry tries to meet the moment by rectifying their mistake, they usually get the same two responses: praise for making a change and vitriol for succumbing to the "agenda."

Most recently, folks have been getting up in arms about Jenny Slate and Kristen Bell's decisions to quit their voice work on Netflix's Big Mouth and Apple TV+'s Central Park as Missy and Molly,...

Exclusive: The team behind Netflix’s Astronomy Club are moving onward and upward following the cancellation of their sketch comedy show and have partnered with The Problem With Apu producer Cowboy Bear Ninja on a new project.

The comedy troupe are developing Sherlock Homies, a comedy series that they describe as Curb Your Enthusiasm-meets-Reno 911 about Harlem’s first all-black detective agency.

The series is the brainchild of Shawtane Bowen, who is one of eight members of Astronomy Club, which also includes Jonathan Braylock, Ray Cordova, James III, Caroline Martin, Jerah Milligan, Monique Moses, and Keisha Zollar.

Bowen said that the show was informed by living in Harlem for eight years. “I had a lot of interactions with the cops,” he told Deadline. “I thought it’d be interesting to do a show on Harlem’s first and last all black detective agency.”

Cowboy Bear Ninja partner Michael Melamedoff, who...

Actor Hank Azaria has expanded on his reasons for no longer voicing the character of Kwik-e-Mart proprietor Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on the animated series The Simpsons.

In a long New York Times interview with culture writer Dave Itzkoff, Azaria said that voicing the character “just didn’t feel right” after criticisms of its stereotyping emerged. Azaria first disclosed his decision in an interview at the Television Critics Assn. winter gathering.

The Simpsons producers said in a statement that “We respect Hank’s journey in regard to Apu. We have granted his wish to no longer voice the character.” However, they refused to rule out another actor voicing the character or continuing with Apu on the show. “Apu is beloved worldwide. We love him too. Stay tuned.”

Azaria has done many voices on the show in addition to Apu (introduced in 1990), including bartender Mo, Chief Wiggum, and Professor Frink. But Apu and his catchphrase,...

Hank Azaria officially announced back in January that he would no longer be voicing the character of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons, following years of controversy surrounding the Kwik-e-Mart proprietor. The Apu controversy was intensified following the release of Hari Kondabolu's 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu, which explained why Apu is an offensive stereotype of South Asian…...

It has been over two years since anyone has heard a word from The Simpsons' Kwik-e-Mart clerk Apu — a silence that looks to be indefinite following Hank Azaria's confirmation to The New York Times on Tuesday that he will no longer voice the character.

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon's transition from a classic to controversial character on the Fox series, now in its 31st season, came shortly after comedian Hari Kondabolu criticized the character for being a racist depiction of Indian Americans in his 2017 documentary, The Problem With Apu.

In the wake of the doc, a wave of criticism followed ...

Several months after confirming that he will no longer voice The Simpsons‘ beloved Kwik-e-Mart manager, actor Hank Azaria is offering some candid insight into his decision to part ways with Apu.

Though many viewers have long taken issue with Azaria, a white man, voicing an Indian character, the conversation evolved into a full-blown movement with the release of TruTV’s 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu. The film chronicled how the character of Apu — whom Azaria has voiced since his introduction in 1990 — has negatively impacted viewers’ perceptions about Indian people, among other issues.

More from TVLineThe Simpsons Meet John Legend and...

Hank Azaria reflected on his decision to stop voicing Apu on The Simpsons in an interview with The New York Times.

The actor announced his decision last month amid a growing backlash against the Indian American convenience-store owner and the stereotypes he pushed. “Once I realized that that was the way this character was thought of, I just didn’t want to participate in it anymore,” Azaria said. “It just didn’t feel right.”

In a statement, the executive producers of The Simpsons said: “We respect Hank’s journey in regard to Apu.

Hank Azaria announced in January he would be stepping away from voicing Apu on “The Simpsons” following years of controversy over his stereotypical portrayal, and the actor says in a new interview with The New York Times that he was unaware one of the major inspirations for Apu was racist to begin with. Azaria tells The Times writer Dave Itzkoff that he based Apu not only on Indian and Pakistani clerks he heard in New York City but also on Peter Sellers’ character in Blake Edwards’ 1968 comedy “The Party.” The movie stars Sellers as Hrundi V. Bakshi, an unknown Indian film actor who mistakenly finds himself invited to an exclusive Hollywood party. Sellers dons brownface in the film. The character inspired such prolific characters as Azaria’s Apu and Rowan Atkinson’s Mr. Bean.

“That represents a real blind spot I had,” Azaria told The Times “with some disappointment” about...

Hank Azaria revealed in a new interview that he will no longer voice the character of Apu on The Simpsons. The actor’s departure from the role follows a swell of backlash against the Indian-American convenience store owner and the stereotypes it furthered on the long-running animated series.

“All we know there is I won’t be doing the voice anymore, unless there’s someway to transition it or something,” Azaria told Slash Film of Apu.

Although Azaria would no longer voice the character, The Simpsons weren’t necessarily removing...

Hank Azaria is leaving his role as Apu on The Simpsons after voicing the character for over 30 years. It's been nearly two years since Hari Kondabolu's TruTV documentary, The Problem With Apu, pointed out, well, for lack of better words, the problem with Azaria's portrayal of the character. Since then, there's been much discussion about the future of the character among fans of the show, critics and the producers of The Simpsons. And, until now, it seemed Apu was here to stay, for better or worse. But, it seems common sense has kicked in since Slashfilm is reporting Azaria is leaving the show. At the TCAs Azaria told the outlet, "All we know there is I won't be doing the voice...

While no official statement from the series and its representatives has emerged so far, “The Simpsons” voice actor Hank Azaria has revealed in a new interview with /Film that he will no longer voice Apu, the Indian immigrant proprietor of the Kwik-e-Mart on the beloved animated show. In the interview, which took place during the ongoing TCA tour in Southern California, Azaria said, “I won’t be doing the voice anymore, unless there’s some way to transition it or something…What they’re going to do with the character is their call,” referring to the series’ creative team that includes executive producers Matt Groening and James L. Brooks. “It’s up to them and they haven’t sorted it out yet. All we’ve agreed on is I won’t do the voice anymore.”

Azaria has contributed voice work to the series since it began in 1989, and his character...