Apu Speaks Again on 'The Simpsons' With New Voice Actor
The Facts
- Animated character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon spoke on "The Simpsons" for the first time in nearly a decade during Sunday's episode "The Revengening," a Halloween-themed installment. Sunil Malhotra, born in India and raised in the United States, voiced the Kwik-E-Mart operator.
- Executive producer Matt Selman said that the team wanted to bring Apu back in a "smart, Simpsons-y way" that allowed him to evolve, and expects more appearances. Apu had been sidelined since a 2017 documentary called into question his representation of South Asians.
- Comedian Hari Kondabolu, who made the documentary, "The Problem With Apu," said that he was not consulted about the return but that producers "didn't owe me that." He called the move a clever solution.
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The Spin
Narrative A
Changing Apu's voice wasn't mandatory, but the move was right. Casting a South Asian performer gives a beloved character room to grow beyond a portrayal associated with mockery. A smarter, more respectful approach strengthens The Simpsons while preserving Apu's wit, work ethic and place in Springfield.
Narrative B
Changing Apu's voice was a needless surrender to woke pressure. The Simpsons sacrificed fearless comedy for activist approval, then returned Apu as a louder, less likable shadow of a once-beloved character. Committee-approved moralizing signals creative exhaustion, leaving no justification for more airtime.
Narrative C
Apu was never just a stereotype — he was educated, hardworking and devoted to his family and adopted country. The Simpsons’ real mistake was silencing one of Springfield’s most recognizable characters for nearly a decade. Malhotra deserves a fair shot, but the fix arrives long after the conversation moved on.
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