In the show's April 8 episode, The Simpsons attempted to address the controversy by breaking the fourth wall. In a scene, Lisa Simpson addressed the audience's concerns that the character of Apu was racist.
"Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect... What can you do?" she said.
"Some things will be dealt with at a later date," Marge Simpson said.
"If at all," Lisa replied.
Watch the clip here:
#TheSimpsons completely toothless response to @harikondabolu #TheProblemWithApu about the racist character Apu:
β Soham (@soham_burger) April 9, 2018
"Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect... What can you do?" pic.twitter.com/Bj7qE2FXWN
The half-assed response to the controversy has stoked a great deal of controversy online. Kondabolu called the response "sad," adding:
TO THE JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE ASKED ME FOR A PUBLIC STATEMENT ABOUT LAST NIGHT'S SIMPSONS EPISODE, I JUST WANT SAY: "Congratulations to the Simpsons for being talked about & being seen as relevant again."
β Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018
Kondabolu's frequent collaborator W. Kamau Bell offered a more in-depth discussion of the episode's disastrous reply. Read his entire thoughtful thread below.
The Simpsons, 1989 - 2018 #RIP π’ https://t.co/FLTsUwFBsQ
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
I think the fact that they put this "argument" in the mouth of Lisa's character, the character who usually champions the underdogs and is supposed to be the most thoughtful and liberal, is what makes this the most ridiculous (as in worthy of ridicule) and toothless response.
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
My friend @harikondabolu made a beautiful & powerful film. It took guts to do it. He knew he was going after a sacred cow. (Pun intended.) He knew many people would just watch the trailer or see the poster or just hear the title & immediately just hate on it & him.
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
& my friend @harikondabolu had to convince a network to air it even though that network has NOTHING ELSE ON ITS AIRWAVES EVEN CLOSE TO THIS. & Hari included some of the most powerful & respected South Asian Americans to speak their truth, showing that he wasn't alone on this.
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
I always tell the #UnitedShades crew that comedy can fix any creative issues. That's what comedy's for. It can't fix real world issues. But it can get you out of a creative jam. The Simpson's, 1 OF THE GREATEST COMEDIES OF ALL TIME, coulda dug deep & wrote their way out of this.
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
I can't find a recent image of it but just Google image search "Simpson's writers room". I think I'm about to crack the case of why The Simpson's aren't more sensitive to these issues, Gumshoes! πββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈπββοΈ
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
The "argument" the episode makes is basically things used to better before political correctness when nobody cared about all these groups. It ignores the facts that ALL THESE GROUPS ALWAYS CARED ABOUT ALL THESE GROUPS. But these groups' complaints weren't respected/supported.
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
Black people always had to explain why Nigger Jim was named Nigger Jim in Huckleberry Finn to our Black children.That didn't start when white people noticed how "weird that was" in the 1990's. π€
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
I'm sure South Asian parents who took their kids to see "Annie" in 1982 had to explain to their kids why Punjab, an already problematic "magical" servant, was played by Geoffrey Holder, a Trinidadian-American. Something to the effect of, "We aren't cast in many movies in the US."
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
The entire anti-political correctness argument is...
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
"I don't get why you're complaining that your toe was stepped on when I never felt my toe being stepped on... What does me wearing steel toed boots & you not having shoes have to do w/ anything?" - Steel toe boot factory owner
It's even more noteworthy because this is the era that on 1 hand created President Trump & on the other (Black) hand created Black Panther. Art always takes a side. Usually it's regressive vs. progressive. It's up to the artists to choose a side. & it's up to the ppl to buy it.
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
Most importantly if you haven't already, watch my friend @harikondabolu's film. It is amazing, bold, reckless, & important. & I'm not just saying that because I'm in it.
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
It's called The Problem with Apu. It's truly great. My friend's making a difference.https://t.co/JTxE4qqevn
Submitted without further comment.https://t.co/rFPPJbdNbL
β Wakanda Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 9, 2018
