The longest-running animated series of all-time, The Simpsons, has been in news for the past few days because of their lackadaisical attempt to address the topic dealing with the racial stereotyping of their southeast Asian character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The show featured a scene between Marge and Lisa Simpsons suggesting that the show will address the issue of racial stereotyping more comprehensively at a later time.
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This has not gone down well with Twitterati and social commentators including comedians.
However, Indian comedian Vir Das had a additional take on it. The comedian-turned-actor took a dig at Bollywood and urged people to take a moment and introspect how the Hindi film industry has been stereotyping white actors, especially women, in their films.
And that too for decades.
“While America takes a look at Apu and the consciousness of how Indians are portrayed in American media, maybe we take a look at how we treat white characters, specifically female in almost every single Bollywood movie. Ever?” Vir, who has widely toured the US,” the comedian tweeted.
While America takes a look at Apu and the conciousness of how Indians are portrayed in American media. Maybe we take a look at how we treat white characters, specifically female in almost every single Bollywood movie……ever?
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) April 11, 2018
The convenience store clerk (Apu) in The Simpsons has been a topic of debate since November 2017
After a documentary on him was released by New York-based comedian Hari Kondabolu who had interviewed several American actors and comedians with a South-east Asian descent and recorded their opinion about the recial stereotyping of Apu. The list of Hollywood celebrities included the likes of Aziz Ansari, Kal Penn, and Hasan Minhaj among others.