The Simpsons ditches using white voices for characters of color

A statement from the makers of The Simpsons has announced that they are ending the use of white actors to voice characters of color. However, the statement did not say whether Apu or the other characters would remain on the series.

By: Reuters

Los Angeles | Updated: June 28, 2020 09:32 AM IST

2 min read

The Simpsons producers announced that the show will no longer have white actors voicing non-white characters.

Animated TV comedy The Simpsons is ending the use of white actors to voice characters of color, producers said on Friday.

“Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” they said in a brief statement.

The statement did not elaborate but the move follows years of public pressure about the Fox television show’s Indian convenience store character Apu, who is voiced by Hank Azaria.

Azaria said earlier this year that he would no longer play the character, which has been criticized as a negative portrayal of Indian-Americans.

Azaria has also voiced the Simpsons characters of Black police officer Lou and the Mexican-American Bumblebee Man. Harry Shearer has played Dr. Hibbert, who is Black.

Friday’s statement did not say whether Apu or the other characters would remain on the series.

Bumbling Homer Simpson, housewife Marge, troublemaker Bart, prodigy Lisa and baby Maggie, have captured the changing face of America for more than 30 years in the longest-running scripted show on U.S. television.

The Simpsons is syndicated in more than 100 countries.

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