Why The Simpsons' response to the Apu controversy was so heartbreaking: Essay

[DonCoquixote]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/why-the-simpsons-response-to-the-apu-controversy-was-so-heartbreaking-essay/ar-AAvH1CC?ocid=spartandhp

Questioning the character of Apu against the inexhaustible tide of people on Twitter saying, “Shut up, it’s just a cartoon,” or “I have an Indian friend and he’s not offended by it!!!!” would be exactly the type of thing Lisa in her unfailing idealism would do.
And so The Simpsons‘ response to criticism is a cop-out in the worst way, a response of dig-in-your-heels defensiveness against an invisible threat with a spit in the face for good measure. Their stodginess is even more baffling when you consider that Kondabolu’s challenge came from a place of love; he is a fan of The Simpsons, and that’s why he wanted to reconcile what he saw as its most unsavory element, something that might have been socially acceptable a quarter of a century ago but needs to be readdressed in 2018.

We can argue whether the Simpson jumped the shark a while ago, but the fact is Lisa Simpson being used to hush Hindus is cheap. It is typical of people who will gladly take all the accolades, but when it comes to defending what made people tune in, will run and hide. Expect a lot of liberal characters being used as puppets to shut people up (Roseanne, I am also looking at you.)

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Hank Azaria discussed this when he was on with Stephen Colbert:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017489659