I haven’t watched the animated series “The Simpsons” ever since it lost its comedic edge over a decade ago, but last night’s episode merits a standing ovation. Mind you, I didn’t watch this show either, but I am aware of it over the headlines it generated for its refreshing decision to respond to accusations of racial insensitivity with a resounding “meh.”
What set the whole kerfuffle in motion was a documentary titled “The Problem With Apu,” released late last year. The film took the series to task over the character of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a convenience store owner who is — what else? — Indian.
Instead of falling all over themselves with mea culpas and promises to excise Apu in future episodes, the series producers reacted to the charges by writing an episode in which two of its main characters, Marge Simpson and her daughter Lisa, decry the idiocy of political correctness.
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Here is the clip. Pay careful attention to the blocking of the scene, such as the camera panning out at the end of Lisa’s first speech to reveal a photograph of Apu on her nightstand.
#TheSimpsons completely toothless response to @harikondabolu #TheProblemWithApu about the racist character Apu:
“Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect… What can you do?” pic.twitter.com/Bj7qE2FXWN
— Soham (@soham_burger) April 9, 2018
Soon after the episode aired, the writer of the documentary, Hari Kondabolu, took to social media to whine about the producers’ refusal to knuckle under:
Wow. “Politically Incorrect?” That’s the takeaway from my movie & the discussion it sparked? Man, I really loved this show. This is sad. https://t.co/lYFH5LguEJ
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018
He has been at it on and off ever since, writing about an hour ago:
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.”
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) April 9, 2018
His followers on Facebook have demonstrated themselves to be as humorless and thin-skinned as he is. A single example will serve.
I wish the Simpsons writers had some idea of how shitty they made the childhood & teenage years of so many brown kids. The show turned our parents into punchlines. We never clapped. Apu was a cheap joke in an otherwise clever show. How hard would it be to admit that? https://t.co/f3rgT1RYP0
— Erika H. (@DrCanonic) April 9, 2018
