More than a year after abandoning voicing Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on "The Simpsons," Hank Azaria continues to reflect on playing the controversial character.
Azaria appeared on Monday's episode of the podcast "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard" and talked about his role in the controversy.
Shepard praised Azaria's response to it all, which led to comedian Hari Kondabolu thanking him. Kondabolu's documentary "The Problem with Apu" debuted in 2017 and looked at the character as a negative, stereotypical representation of South Asians.
Nahasapeemapetilon, a Indian American character with a thick accent, operates the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store in the fictional town of Springfield.
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"It's not about congratulating me for the response because I'm a big part in creating the problem to begin with," Azaria said on the podcast. "So nothing takes that away except maybe an amends over time which I am attempting to make."
Azaria said that while speaking at his son's school he chatted with Indian students there "because I wanted to get their input."
One 17-year-old who has never seen "The Simpsons" still knew about the Apu character Azaria said.
"It's practically a slur at this point," he said. "All he knows is that is how his people are thought of and represented to many people in this country."
Actor Hank Azaria poses for a portrait during the 2020 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif on Jan. 16, 2020.
Azaria said that young man got emotional and asked the actor to share the message that such characters have ramifications.
"I really do apologize. It's important," Azaria said. "I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do."
Azaria still voices characters including Moe Szyslak on "The Simpsons," but now is a major proponent for casting actors of color to voice characters of color.
Last year, Black actor Alex Désert took over from Azaria as the voice of Black character Carl Carlson on "The Simpsons."
10 things that happened the year 'The Simpsons' premiered
Game time!
According to Insider, the most popular toy in 1989 was the Game Boy. The black and white handheld gaming device would be a go-to toy until it was upgraded in 1998 to the Game Boy Color.
Medical miracles
You may be surprised to learn that the first liver transplant with a live donor took place just 30 years ago at the University of Chicago. The surgical team, led by Dr. Christopher Broelsch, transplanted a portion of the liver of a 29-year-old Texan woman to her 21-month-old daughter, The New York Times reports.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
The Exxon Valdez oil spill, one of the most catastrophic environmental disasters in history, happened on March 24, 1989. The spill, which National Geographic reports as “the worst oil spill in U.S. waters” until 2010’s Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, dumped more than 10 million gallons of oil in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. The spill also came with a heavy animal death toll, killing more than 250,000 seabirds, 3,000 otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles and 22 killer whales.
It’s getting hot in here
In 1989, experts began predicting the impact of climate change and greenhouse gases on the global environment. The AP reported that the United Nations estimated that rising sea levels could demolish whole nations if climate change wasn’t reversed by the year 2000. “Climatologists will argue for many years whether the greenhouse warming has started. But there's every reason to take action immediately, and not wait until that debate is concluded,” an op-ed in The New York Times said.
Tiananmen Square protests
Student protests demanding democracy in China took place throughout the month May before coming to a dramatic end on June 4 and 5, 1989. The Tiananmen Square Massacre claimed the lives of hundreds of Chinese citizens and led to close to 10,000 arrests according to History.com.
End of apartheid
South African Prime Minister F.W. de Klerk assumed power in 1989, succeeding P.W. Botha. During his term, de Klerk would implement policies that ended apartheid, which had existed in South Africa for more than four decades. He also freed imprisoned activist Nelson Mandela one year later.
Super Bowl XXIII - San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
The San Francisco 49ers were the champions of Super Bowl XXIII on Jan. 22, 1989, beating out the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16. This was their third Super Bowl win, previously winning in 1982 and 1985.
Toyota takes on luxury
Toyota introduced its luxury model, Lexus, in 1989.
Seeing a mirage
Famed Las Vegas strip resort, The Mirage Hotel and Casino, first opened its doors a month ahead of schedule on Nov. 22, 1989.
Presidentially speaking
President George H.W. Bush, also known as Bush 41, assumed the nation’s highest office in January 1989, succeeding Ronald Reagan.
