The Simpsons brings back Apu with new voice actor

The Simpsons has reintroduced the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon in the Treehouse of Horror XXXVII episode. The character, the owner of the Kwik-E Mart, had been largely silent for years following intense criticism regarding racial stereotypes.

The controversy gained significant momentum in 2017 following the release of the documentary ‘The Problem with Apu’ by comedian Hari Kondabolu. The film examined how the character served as a caricature that contributed to the bullying of Indian Americans. This discourse led the original voice actor, Hank Azaria, to step away from the role in 2020 and issue a public apology.

In a move to address concerns regarding authenticity, the series has cast Sunil Malhotra to provide the new voice for Apu. Malhotra is an American actor who was born in New Delhi, India, before moving to the United States as a child.