Apu returns to The Simpsons with new voice after race row
The Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has returned to the show with a new voice actor, Sunil Malhotra, after a long hiatus. The character was previously removed following criticism that it relied on harmful racial stereotypes.
Why it matters
This reflects the ongoing cultural debate regarding representation in media and the evolution of long-running entertainment franchises.
Image source, Getty Images By Paul Glynn Culture reporter Published 6 hours ago The Simpsons character Apu has returned to the show voiced by a new actor, after almost a decade away amid accusations of racial stereotypes.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon - to give the much-loved shopkeeper his full name - re-appeared in Sunday's episode on US network Fox, titled The Revengening, but now voiced by India-born, US-raised actor Sunil Malhotra.
The character has been seen but not heard around Springfield since the October 2017 episode The Serfsons, and his big return to action had reportedly been a closely guarded secret.
Malhotra said in a statement posted on Instagram that it feels like a reclamation. "It truly is his homecoming," he said.
The character, who has been part of the long-running American animation series since 1990, was previously voiced by a white actor, Hank Azaria, putting on a heavy Indian accent.
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