We can learn from ‘Simpsons’ fans yelling about Hank Azaria and Apu

Hank Azaria’s done with Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, and there’s a lesson in the inevitable backlash that followed his announcement.

The veteran actor behind many of the popular characters on The Simpsons confirmed that he’s no longer voicing Apu during an appearance at the Television Critics Association press tour on Friday. It’s not clear what that means for the character – Fox has no comment at the moment – but Azaria was clear about how his own role will change.

“What they’re going to do with the character is their call,” he said, according to /Film. “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.” During the same appearance, Azaria also said this was a “mutual decision” that “we all agreed on.”

There’s some important background here for anyone who doesn’t know it. Apu, the character, has been the subject of conversation and criticism ever since the The Problem with Apu started making the rounds back in 2017. 

In the documentary, comedian/writer Hari Kondabolu and director Michael Melamedoff explore the character and his legacy as a racial stereotype. However you might feel about Apu personally, the documentary led to still-ongoing discussions about representation, stereotypes, and microaggressions that continue to unfold even now.

As I was looking through the news around Azaria’s latest comments and the subsequent fan backlash, I noticed a common complaint pop up again and again. It’s not a new idea. In fact, if you’ve been following this whole discussion since 2017, you’ve probably seen it before. 

It goes like this: “Well I’m X, and I’m not offended by this character who is clearly a joking riff on X.” Here, have some specific, intentionally unlinked examples culled from various social media posts:

• “Scots don’t get annoyed at Dan Castellaneta voicing Groundskeeper Willie”

• “The Simpsons features a FULL CAST of stereotypes, including but not limited to Bumblebee Man, Groundskeeper Willie, Üter, Fat Tony, Luigi, Comic Book Guy, and Cletus. Why single one stereotype out?”

• “I’m black and I always felt they were pretty equal opportunity with stereotypes.”

• “I’m Indian and I’m not offended by Apu.”

Maybe you share this opinion. And hey, if you yourself are not personally offended by anything on The Simpsons, that’s great for you. But that’s not the point. All along, the issues brought to light in the documentary have centered culture as a whole, and the mainstream mindset that made space for a caricature like Apu.

In short, this isn’t about you. 

The Problem with Apu doesn’t just shine an unflattering light on this lingering thing that, in the the view of many, has been rendered inoffensive through familiarity and longevity. The documentary resonates because the long-simmering issues that Apu represents are so widely relatable. 

Anytime you watch an old Seinfeld or M*A*S*H episode (or any other show) and think “Woof, that hasn’t aged well,” you’re tapping into exactly the kinds of frustrations Kondabolu and Melamedoff highlighted in 2017. Why do you think the documentary is still having an impact two years later? In this era of the 24-hour news cycle, controversies can come and go in the space between heartbeats. Yet the discussion The Problem with Apu opened up goes on.

This isn’t about you.

So Azaria is stepping away from the character, in what he characterized as a unanimous behind the scenes decision. The move doesn’t erase Apu or the many episodes that feature him from the show’s history. It doesn’t mean you’re no longer allowed to be a fan of the character. We don’t even know yet if Apu is going away entirely, but whether he does or not, it’s not an attack on you, personally.

And yet, so much of the backlash is framed in personal terms. There are crowds of people shouting at the injustice of it all, since they themselves aren’t offended. They’re unwilling (or unable) to consider the wider landscape of feelings and responses; they just know that something they like is changing and that change is beyond their control. So they they shout their grievances into the wind.

I’m not here to suggest that anyone’s feelings of disappointment aren’t valid. Apu is popular, after all. He’s been on the show for a long time, he’s been at the center of some beloved episodes, and the twists and turns he’s taken as a character are among The Simpsons‘ more positive portrayals. But I also think moments like this can lead to some worthwhile self-reflection for all of us.

I’m hardly the first person to call out selfishness on the internet. Setting aside the bad faith trolls who just like to watch the world burn, internet backlash is often an inescapable result of the way we consume information online. Free of context, it’s easy to make assumptions about intent. And most of us will reflexively try to square our understanding through the lens of our own beliefs.

That’s why in situations like this, I think it’s more important to listen than it is to react. Firing off an internet comment is easy and without risk. You vent your frustration into the void and move on with your day. But in the process, you also help to reinforce a noisy feedback loop.

That doesn’t help anyone. I’ve said this before, but the internet is an engagement machine. It doesn’t differentiate between signal and noise; it simply latches on to key words and phrases, and then some algorithm uses that data to decide what you should and shouldn’t see. That’s how backlash gets weaponized; trolls use the noise to flood every zone and drown out the signal, or the thoughtful, complex heart of any discourse.

I’ve got no illusions here. Talking about the mechanisms of backlash isn’t going to eliminate all the bad takes. But I think this whole situation with The Simpsons and Apu offers a perfect illustration of how our frequently subconscious selfishness can infect what would otherwise be a nuanced, healthy discussion. 

You’re not offended? Great. Sincerely, that’s awesome. We should all be so lucky as to enjoy our faves without baggage. But you know what? People other than you are offended, and their feelings are valid too. Stop and consider their perspective and their basic humanity before your next angry tweet. You might be surprised by what you learn.