The Problem with Apu

After watching this film, I think Hari Kondabalu is reaching with a lot of these arguments. For example, "'Thank you come again' has haunted Indian children for over a century." I am of Pakistani and Indian descent, and not once was I "haunted" or compared to Apu growing up in the United States during the 90's. I have talked with many of my South Asian friends/family about this film, and most of them also have never experienced such a comparison.

Look I appreciate these actors sharing their stories and creating a dialogue about the lack South Asian representation in Hollywood, but using Apu and the Simpsons as a scapegoat is completely misguided. Like many others have mentioned, the film seems to miss the point that the Simpsons is a light-hearted satire, and the show pokes fun at SO many different stereotypes. That's one of the many reasons why we love the Simpsons! Overall, I really don't think there's a strong argument here, and I wouldn't recommend this film...

I understand the concept. I would be annoyed too if I was spoken to in the voice of a Simpsons character in the 90's, but that's where the problem is, in the 90's. I love the Simpsons but the show doesn't have the same cultural pull it did in the 90's. The shared experiences of those interviewed all seem to have taken place a couple decades ago when the Simpson's was in it's prime. That aside the documentary was poorly pieced together and was more about stroking to ego of Hari Kondabolu than actually attacking the problems with Apu. Bottom line find something else to watch.

• "You're the one who hate Indians, Hari. Not Simpsons"

Yes, I mean what I wrote. Yes, WE are stereotyped, we are mocked, our accent is mocked, and what not.

• How is this disrespectful when it used to be true for first generation immigrants? Your family got its privileges and you don't have that accent because you're not an Indian, just of that descent. So, don't speak on our behalf, you idiot!

• What, whoever this guy is, doesn't understand is, he is not Indian enough to have a say in it. In fact, he is probably more racist towards people of South Asia than the writers he is blaming. He hates our accent but welcomes our victim card, making all his stand ups about this and this only.

"How many times has been in India? How many shows has he had here? I didn't even know he existed till now and he feels entitled to represent my entire race."

• He also completely disregarded one thing: however racist it might feel:

The Simpsons and Fox did put an entire Indian family in the most popular animated show of all time. When? Way back in the 1990s.

You should be grateful to them, not grumpy. Don't try to convert your emotional baggage into others' guilt.

Hari's stand-up is second-rate and contrived, which did not garner him the fame he desired despite having access to the media apparatus through connections and wealthy parentage. So he went the route of feigned offense and propelled the zeitgeist of "cancel culture" along its unfortunate trajectory.

As we can see after the release of the film and its brief discussion in the press, Hari has again disappeared into obscurity, no doubt wondering what famous piece of entertainment he can latch onto next. Perhaps he will next cover issues which actually affect Indians and Indian-Americans instead of being critical when cartoon voice actors are not the same ethnicity as their characters (for very specific instances). That, however, is doubtful because it would not get him very much attention and would require considerable effort.

Tries to bring down the very thing he's making money on. Silly.