Hank Azaria seems more willing to address the racial issues on "The Simpsons" than the show's writers.
The comedian dropped by "The Late Show" Tuesday to promote the return of his IFC comedy, "Brockmire," but the conversation quickly veered to the long-running Fox sitcom and the recent controversy around Azaria's character, the stereotypically Indian clerk Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
In the documentary "The Problem With Apu," Hari Kondabolu criticized the cartoon's representation of the Kwik-E-Mart owner, particularly his over-the-top accent and mannerisms.
The "Simpsons" showrunners were silent about the controversy for almost five months until a controversial episode earlier in the month in which Lisa makes out-of-character comments about how "something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect."
On Tuesday, Azaria, who had previously only touched on the complaints and apologized to anyone who was "hurt and offended," said that "the idea that anyone young or old, past or present, being bullied based on Apu really makes me sad."
"I had nothing to do with the writing or the voicing (in the episode that responded to "The Problem with Apu"). I think if anyone came away from that segment thinking they need to lighten up ... that's definitely not the message that I want to send," he told Colbert.
"I think the most important thing is to listen to Indian people and their experience with it. I really want to see Indian, South Asian writers in the writers room ... including how (Apu) is voiced or not voiced. I'm perfectly willing to step aside. It just feels like the right thing to do to me."
