Current Events > Remember Apu from the Simpsons?

(+) Yeah! (+)

He was such a great character, successful business owner, loving father, yet still human enough to err. But some people said he was racist for some reason so now he's banned lol

i remember people suddenly caring about apu out of nowhere after decades of him being a nothing character with maybe the token 1 or 2 eps all nothing characters get

At this point a lot of the characters on that show either can't be voiced anymore because the actor's skin color is different or because the actor is dead.

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The Apu thing was so stupid. It is called acting, and every character in the Simpsons are bad stereotypes. At least Apu was vastly successful.

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"We need to remove minority characters from TV and only give jobs to people of the correct race" - people claiming to oppose racism
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Yeah. Good char. Then the SJWs/twitter warriors (same people really) got ahold of him, and that was that.

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For no reason here's Apu

Crono99 posted...

Apparently indian kids were picked on in school and called Apu because of it

Not going to say that bullshit, but it never happened to me.

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DP3 posted...

For no reason here's Apu

Whoa whoa that song references Michael Jackson and his episode is banned as fuck, nobody's allowed to hear the Happy Birthday Lisa song ever again

The Indians I know and am related to all loved Apu and never had issues at least.

I have no doubt some people did make fun of others with stuff related to Apu though, but if not him would have been something else.

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Apu had a time and a place. That was the 90s and 00s. Enjoy it and move on.

Crono99 posted...

Apparently indian kids were picked on in school and called Apu because of it

This is bad and I dunno how people aren't able to understand this. Growing up, people would call any male Asian kid they see either Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee.

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It's incredible how many people don't or can't understand what the complaint about Apu is and how he differs from many of the other characters of the show.

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Pseudomenon posted...

It's incredible how many people don't or can't understand what the complaint about Apu is and how he differs from many of the other characters of the show.

Doesn't matter what it is. Its nonsensical. If it was fine in the 90s/00s, its fine now.

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onedarksoul posted...

If it was fine in the 90s/00s, its fine now.

A lot of things that was fine back then are not fine now. Come on, bro.

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Anyway, not a huge deal, just more evidence how overly sensitive everything is becoming.

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onedarksoul posted...

Anyway, not a huge deal, just more evidence how overly sensitive everything is becoming.

While I agree with this, this situation is different.

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onedarksoul posted...

Doesn't matter what it is. Its nonsensical. If it was fine in the 90s/00s, its fine now.

Lmao.

In the 90s it was cool to call a gay person a (redacted). "That's so gay" was also acceptable.

I guess those are still fine right according to you

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onedarksoul posted...

Anyway, not a huge deal, just more evidence how overly sensitive everything is becoming.

Are racist things bad?
No, everyone is overly sensitive.

Too lazy to pull up the Skinner meme template.

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Pseudomenon posted...

It's incredible how many people don't or can't understand what the complaint about Apu is and how he differs from many of the other characters of the show.

This. Everyday a South Asian clerk was called Apu or heard "Thank you. Come again."

Matt Groening's response was also pretty shitty.

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Pseudomenon posted...

It's incredible how many people don't or can't understand what the complaint about Apu is and how he differs from many of the other characters of the show.

So what's the complaint and how does he differ? I thought it was another case of "stereotype bad."

Pseudomenon posted...

It's incredible how many people don't or can't understand what the complaint about Apu is and how he differs from many of the other characters of the show.

Characters like:
Cop who loves donuts
Italian who is a mob boss
Gay man who's obsessed with fashion
Religious man that is extremely uptight
Mexican in a bee costume on a wacky TV show
Nerd with thick glasses and a funny voice
Etc. Etc.

But please enlighten me how Apu was unique.

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shockthemonkey posted...

We demand police accountability
Fox: shit get rid of Apu

This happened well before that.

Veggeta_MAX posted...

This is bad and I dunno how people aren't able to understand this. Growing up, people would call any male Asian kid they see either Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee.

In this comparison is Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee the problem though?

The whole issue raised with Apu seems to be that there wasn't Indian representation on TV so people jumped on Apu despite him being treated no differently than any other Simpsons character.

Pseudomenon posted...

It's incredible how many people don't or can't understand what the complaint about Apu is and how he differs from many of the other characters of the show.

How does Apu differ from anyone else?

Groundskeeper Willie has at least the same level of stereotypical accent and is frankly a far worse portrayal of Scottish people than Apu is of Indians.

s0nicfan posted...

Characters like:
Cop who loves donuts
Italian who is a mob boss
Gay man who's obsessed with fashion
Religious man that is extremely uptight
Mexican in a bee costume on a wacky TV show
Nerd with thick glasses and a funny voice
Etc. Etc.

But please enlighten me how Apu was unique.

Apples to oranges to grapes to melons. I can't imagine how much of a fool you'd have to be to really make these comparisons

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Blue_Inigo posted...

Apples to oranges to grapes to melons. I can't imagine how much of a fool you'd have to be to really make these comparisons

s0nicfan posted...

But please enlighten me how Apu was unique.

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Have any of you honestly followed the Simpsons for the last ten years enough to care about this? Answer truthfully.

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The_Ivory_Man posted...

In this comparison is Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee the problem though?

The whole issue raised with Apu seems to be that there wasn't Indian representation on TV so people jumped on Apu despite him being treated no differently than any other Simpsons character.

The main problem is society for sure but not enough representation adds to the problem so then casual dumb fucks will call you and align you to who they know.

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A cop who loves donuts and a nerd is not the same as a racial stereotype portrayed through the lens of white people

Is this really that hard for you to understand?

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Drunk Cobra posted...

Have any of you honestly followed the Simpsons for the last ten years enough to care about this? Answer truthfully.

Been even longer.

My only exposure is talking to my Indian Brother in Law who couldn't care less about Apu's Stereotype. But then less to do with an adult and more children were being bullied over it. Not sure him being removed will stop that though due to just how big Simpsons is/was though.

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Blue_Inigo posted...

A cop who loves donuts and a nerd is not the same as a racial stereotype portrayed through the lens of white people

The point is that all of the side characters were stereotypes. You're also conveniently cutting out the examples I provided that are explicitly racial stereotypes like the Italian mobster, the Mexican TV show host, or the drunken Scottish groundskeeper. Just because you're casually hand-waving away stereotypes that you're okay with because they're not based on race doesn't mean they're not stereotypes.

You also have still completely failed to explain how apu specifically was unique in the show full of stereotypes, or that he caused more harm than any of the other ones.

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s0nicfan posted...

The point is that all of the side characters were stereotypes. You're also conveniently cutting out the examples I provided that are explicitly racial stereotypes like the Italian mobster, the Mexican TV show host, or the drunken Scottish groundskeeper. Just because you're casually hand-waving away stereotypes that you're okay with because they're not based on race doesn't mean they're not stereotypes.

Stop leaving Cookie Kwan out of this!

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s0nicfan posted...

The point is that all of the side characters were stereotypes. You're also conveniently cutting out the examples I provided that are explicitly racial stereotypes like the Italian mobster, the Mexican TV show host, or the drunken Scottish groundskeeper. Just because you're casually hand-waving away stereotypes that you're okay with because they're not based on race doesn't mean they're not stereotypes.

Gee, it's almost like all stereotypes are not created equally.

Why is it so difficult for you to understand? How many times must it be stated?

One thing being ok doesnt mean something else is

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Blue_Inigo posted...

Gee, it's almost like all stereotypes are not created equally.

Why is it so difficult for you to understand? How many times must it be stated?

One thing being ok doesnt mean something else is

You haven't actually stated anything. You just keep saying apu is worse and I have repeatedly asked you to explain how he's worse and you keep dodging the question. Because you can't actually answer it. Because you're talking out your ass.

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He still appears in crowd shots and in the background.

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He started out as a stereotype voiced by a non-Indian character doing a faux-Indian accent.

Within a number of years, they tried to improve his image by making him very intelligent, giving accurate depictions of Hinduism, etc. But the generalized depiction of an Indian gas station worker is still a stereotype.

They did a great job improving him, and Apu is a wonderful character, but it's probably best to move on.

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s0nicfan posted...

You also have still completely failed to explain how apu specifically was unique in the show full of stereotypes, or that he caused more harm than any of the other ones.

Who was making fun of children/these other stereotypes with stuff from the Simpsons? Apu was pretty unique in this, generating his own catchphrase to mock people with.

The other stuff was generic stereotypes that already existed so played very little part in it.

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s0nicfan posted...

You haven't actually stated anything. You just keep saying apu is worse and I have repeatedly asked you to explain how he's worse and you keep dodging the question. Because you can't actually answer it. Because you're talking out your ass.

You started off making a dumbass comparison of Apu to Chief freakin Wiggum and expect me to take you seriously? You're clearly set in your 30 year old stereotypes and can't see the dehumanizing nature that Apu has on South Asian people.

What separates him from all those characters? He had the burden of being one of the first visible mainstream appearances of an Indian character. Apu is an Indian character portrayed through the lens of a white actor and white writers who didn't think about the consequences of his stereotypical accent, mannerisms, and behavior.

Like I said before, some stereotypes are ok for them to mess around with but some aren't. Just like how The Boondocks has jokes only it can get away with it.

If the Simpsons in its prime had a black character who acted super stereotypically, you can bet black people would be pissed.

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Indian kids probably wish they where still being called Apu.

Blue_Inigo posted...

You started off making a dumbass comparison of Apu to Chief freakin Wiggum and expect me to take you seriously? You're clearly set in your 30 year old stereotypes and can't see the dehumanizing nature that Apu has on South Asian people.

What separates him from all those characters? He had the burden of being one of the first visible mainstream appearances of an Indian character. Apu is an Indian character portrayed through the lens of a white actor and white writers who didn't think about the consequences of his stereotypical accent, mannerisms, and behavior.

Like I said before, some stereotypes are ok for them to mess around with but some aren't. Just like how The Boondocks has jokes only it can get away with it.

If the Simpsons in its prime had a black character who acted super stereotypically, you can bet black people would be pissed.

Are you a white guy by any chance?

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Lol

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I hope you guys know that's Blue_Inigo you guys are talking to.

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Blue_Inigo posted...

You started off making a dumbass comparison of Apu to Chief freakin Wiggum and expect me to take you seriously? You're clearly set in your 30 year old stereotypes and can't see the dehumanizing nature that Apu has on South Asian people.

What separates him from all those characters? He had the burden of being one of the first visible mainstream appearances of an Indian character. Apu is an Indian character portrayed through the lens of a white actor and white writers who didn't think about the consequences of his stereotypical accent, mannerisms, and behavior.

Like I said before, some stereotypes are ok for them to mess around with but some aren't. Just like how The Boondocks has jokes only it can get away with it.

If the Simpsons in its prime had a black character who acted super stereotypically, you can bet black people would be pissed.

Other than his accent, apu was a successful businessman in a happy marriage who was devout to his religion and an open environmentalist. He often helped out the Simpsons when they needed support, and was a pillar of his community. If your argument is that he had the burden of being the first Indian representation, then really you were just complaining about the fact that he had an accent, or you never actually watched the show and are just parroting complaints from people without understanding them.

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I bet they make Apu say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas, too.I hate them so much.

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What's the Mexican dressed as a bee and hosting a tv show stereotype? Do we dress like bees a lot?

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The problem isn't that Apu himself was offensively stereotypical; it's that the character was so popular that he was eventually used to by society to stereotype Indians in this country, much the same as calling an Indian man 'Kumar' or 'Slumdog.' As a kid in the mid to late 90's, we thought it was the height of wit and hilarity to call the one Indian kid in class 'Apu' (yes, I regretfully contributed to this firsthand, even though I wasn't allowed to watch the Simpsons at the time and didn't really get the 'joke'); this kid didn't have an accent, didn't in any way act like Apu, so the only basis for this comparison was his race, pure and simple.

So, labeling this kid 'Apu' made about as much sense as labeling every redhead you meet 'Groundskeeper Willie;' the former happens quite a bit while the latter, unsurprisingly, never does (just in case someone believed that mentioning the other stereotypical characters on the show was a 'gotcha' of some kind). Apu gets special scrutiny in this case over something like Harold and Kumar and Slumdog Millionaire because The Simpsons has been around a lot longer, and continues to produce new episodes and remain firmly entrenched in the zeitgeist; the kids who got called 'Apu' in school are now old enough and established enough in the media to shed light on the problem.

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s0nicfan posted...

Other than his accent, apu was a successful businessman in a happy marriage who was devout to his religion and an open environmentalist. He often helped out the Simpsons when they needed support, and was a pillar of his community. If your argument is that he had the burden of being the first Indian representation, then really you were just complaining about the fact that he had an accent, or you never actually watched the show and are just parroting complaints from people without understanding them.

Ah yes, a successful business man with a PhD who....runs a convenience store. As the clerk no less. I know if I had a PhD I'd be doing the same thing. What's the point of giving the characters these accolades if you have him chained to multiple shitty stereotypes doing a stereotypical accent? They become meaningless. Him being a good guy doesn't mean he's not a blatant Indian stereotype that mainstream America ate up and took to be what Indians are like.

https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/18/16665434/the-problem-with-apu-hari-kondabolu-trutv-whoopi-goldberg-aziz-ansari

If you want to know the issues with Apu, this article makes them pretty apparent. The Simpsons writers can't even get Apu's origins right because they just jumbled a bunch of stereotypes together.

Just because it was funny, doesnt mean it was ok or right. It doesn't mean there aren't real world consequences.


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Lost_All_Senses posted...

What's the Mexican dressed as a bee and hosting a tv show stereotype? Do we dress like bees a lot?

He's based off a real life character, the red grasshopper or something like that.

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gunplagirl posted...

He's based off a real life character, the red grasshopper or something like that.

It's not that, from a Google search. But wouldn't that be making fun of the specific character and not the whole race than? Id argue it's more suspect to think that one whacky guy represents Mexicans as a whole lol. Maybe Im wrong. Maybe this is deeper than my understanding. I never cared about surface racism as much as all the deep malicious shit going on.

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