Hari Kondabolu

Hari Kondabolu

Date of birth: 21-10-1982

Is Apu racist?

Oh yes, says Hari Kondabolu in new film

Comedian Hari Kondabolu is making a documentary about the racism behind Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.

In the new film, The Problem With Apu, the stand-up accuses likens the character to a blackface minstrel ‘since it’s brown paint [and] a white guy’s voice?’

A clip  shows voice actor Hank Azaria admitting he had reservations about the stereotype, but said producers encouraged him to be offensive.

Kondabolu spoke to several leading Indian actors about the discomfort they felt about the character. Utkarsh Ambudka,  of The Mindy Project, said in a trailer newly released by TruTV: ’The Simpsons’ stereotypes all races. The problem is, we didn’t have any other representation."

And Simpsons writer Dana Gould tells Kondabolu: ‘There are accents that — by their nature — to white Americans sound funny. Period.’

The comic comments: ‘It’s funny because it’s racist!’

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Published: 30 Jul 2017

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