Apu to be dropped from ‘The Simpsons’ due to controversy

Image: Facebook/Adi Shankar

The Indian store owner in the long-running “The Simpsons” animated sitcom will soon be no more to avoid controversy due to the character’s inaccurate portrayal of Indian-Americans.

What has been referred to as the “Apu Problem” had been under the spotlight for sometime. Show producer Adi Shankar attempted to address the issue in April by launching a script contest. Shankar planned to have the winning script be a clever way to subvert, pivot, evolve or write out the character, reports IndieWire.

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However, just as Shankar believed he found the “perfect script” by Vishaal Buch, a family doctor in Bethesda, Maryland, higher-ups from Fox decided they couldn’t wait any longer and just unceremoniously dropped the Apu character.

“I got some disheartening news back, that I’ve verified from multiple sources now: They’re going to drop the Apu character altogether,” said Shankar in an interview with IndieWire.

Shankar clarified that he got the information from two people who work for “The Simpsons” and a third one who works directly with creator Matt Groening.

The producer also believed simply dropping Apu without making a big deal out of it would be a mistake, especially for a show popular for its social satire.

If Shankar manages to convince Fox executives to give Apu a chance, fans of “The Simpsons” would get a new perspective as the small store owner would transform into a thriving businessman in Springfield. The episode would also feature other prominent Indian-Americans to make a point on diversity and individuality the “Simpsons” way.  Alfred Bayle /ra

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