I did read about it and I think you’re missing the point here. It’s not about what he did or didn’t do to prepare about the part, it’s about the way real South Asians feel about the part. The only people’s opinions that matter on that topic are the people who are being impersonated, because they’re the only people who…

You heard that because you made it up yourself. The documentary is nuanced, largely in favor of the Simpsons, and happy to discuss the issue with a variety of viewpoints.

But my point is that it wasn’t racist UNTIL racists started using it. If someone said, “Go back to your own country Gandhi”. That wouldn’t make Gandhi a racial stereotype. It would just mean that particular racist could only think of Gandhi as a way to show that they viewed someone as an anonymous member of a group…

Yeah, Jez could have spoken up. They also could have more South Asian representation. They routinely drop the ball on a lot. And? My point stands. People who were offended were being ignored because they didn’t have a voice.

Right. That’s the problem- Apu provides the go-to insult for racists. He’s not providing representation- he’s providing cannon fodder for racists, partially by the fact that he’s got stupid catchphrases in a ridiculous accent that stick in the brain more than anything from any other minority character on the show.

I haven’t watched the documentary so maybe this is addressed. But isn’t “Thank you, come again” only used as a racist joke because Apu used it as a catch-phrase? That is, it wasn’t an existing stereotype that was reinforced, but rather an innocuous phrase that was adopted by racists as an easy way to mock people.…

George Lucas didn’t meet Joseph Campbell until 1984 - a year after ROTJ.

From what I remember, originally Apu wasn’t necessarily going to be an Indian guy. The most popular account of how his character came to be is that originally the convenience store owner character was supposed to be white, but Hank Azaria read his lines with a fake Indian accent and the writers thought it was funny…

Where were all of you in the 28 years before that??!!

I love you Matt! Life in Hell and The Simpsons offer me a link to any sanity I have. I’m begging you, please stop looking like a Steve Bannon clone.

Most characters in The Simpsons are exaggerations of stereotypes.

They thought he was a terrible caricature and racist representation. In actuality, the fellow playing Ben Jabituya(Fisher Stevens) went to India and lived there for a while to get the part as authentic as he could.

Yup. Hari and others in the documentary reference having “THANK YOU COME AGAIN!” yelled at them in a threatening way, being called “Apu” and other Apu-adjacent phrases (think: “Who is watching the Quick-e-mart?”)

The thing about Groundskeeper Willie is that while it may or may not be offensive to people of Scottish descent, no one is using the character to enforce discrimination against Scots and Scottish Americans.

Yep, he’s later said it’s one of the decisions he most regrets in life.

This is disappointing. I get someone being defensive at first when criticized, that’s human nature, but he’s had time to think about this by this point.

Honest question: How many of those being offended were still watching The Simpsons?

To be honest they kind of crushed it with the indian-american stereotypes. In a hyperbolic kinda way of course. He is also shows to be a great friend / family man. 

You know—there are creative ways he could deal with this problem, I’m sure. But if he doesn’t see it as a problem? Not going to happen.

There is the outrage of the week