'The Simpsons' Producer Al Jean Is "Nervous" About Cancel Culture

"Well Lisa, remember that postcard Grandpa sent us from Florida of that alligator biting a woman's bottom?"

BY Sydney BrasilPublished Oct 4, 2022

Despite being called out for having white people voice characters of colour multiple times and surviving the ordeal, Simpsons producer Al Jean says he's "nervous" about cancel culture. 

Discussing the backlash the show has received for characters like Apu Nahasapeemapetilon and Carl Carlson, the long-time producer spoke to Metro about replacing voice actors or making certain characters mute.

"Well, it's important to know your audience and if you lose your audience, then you've made a really big mistake," said Jean. "I also think that it is important for comedians to be allowed to do satire."

He continued: "I think of people like Kathy Griffin who was criticized when she was being satirical. And I go, there's a danger when we tell comedians what is or isn't funny. You can say, 'I don't like it,' or you don't want to laugh … You want to buy it or watch it? That's great, keep watching us. But in terms of seeing, 'Oh this is permissible speech,' I get very nervous when you go down that slope."

After Hank Azaria stepped down from voicing Apu in 2019 following the retaliation that came after the release of the documentary The Problem With Apu, The Simpsons has made Apu a silent character. Azaria also used to voice Black character Carl Carlson, but has since been replaced by Alex Désert. 

Jean did once say that if The Simpsons were created now, he would've hired an "ethnically correct" actor to voice Apu. Considering he was a consulting producer on the Season 6 episode "Homer Badman" (Gummi Venus de Milo, anyone?), maybe he's hyper-anxious about that same angry mob appearing outside of his house. 

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