‘The Simpsons’ Creator Matt Groening On His Love For Apu: “He’s One Of The Most Nuanced Characters”

‘The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening says he loves the character of Apu on the show, despite Groening and the series receiving flak for getting a white actor, Hank Azaria, to voice an Indian animated character. Azaria later stepped down as the voiceover artist, following the controversy.

“I think the Apu stories are fantastic, and he’s one of the most nuanced characters on a silly two-dimensional cartoon show. So, yeah, I’m proud of Apu, I’m trying not to open up another chasm of criticism, but it doesn’t matter what I say. I’ll get it anyway,” he said while appearing for an interview ahead of the show’s 700th episode,” said Matt Groening, in an interview with USA Today.

The noted American cartoonist, Matt Groening also revealed that they were searching for the right actor to voice for the character, and feels it has become a challenge ever since the producers of the show announced last June that non-white characters on the show would not be voiced by white actors anymore.