#StopAsianHate Voices From Asian America: AAPI entertainers talk activism efforts & giving back

Should entertainers use their platforms to express their personal views outside the realm of acting and performing? 

Why the hell, not? As citizens of this country, they have the same rights that all American have. They're entitled to their views if you believe in the Constitution's First Amendment that guarantees Freedom of Speech.

Movies and television help shape American culture and the way we see ourselves. Progress is occurring, but so much more needs to be done to include AAPI actors and representation onscreen. 

First up, on a Zoom call, Daniel Dae Kim, George Takei, Olivia Munn, Dianne Doan, Hari Kondabolu, and Chloe Bennet sat down with EW on Sunday March, 14th 2021 to speak about their experiences as Asian artists and the rise in attacks against Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We can't really address the racism that's happening towards Asian Americans without addressing the racism that is happening towards African Americans, our Latinx brothers and sisters," states Bennett, the Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actress.

Below, Ken Jeong, takes a break from his usual comedic nature and gets serious on Late Night.

Unfortunately, "It's going to get worse before it gets better," says the New York-born actress Lucy Liu (below) as she is interviewed by CNN's Erin Burnett.

Margaret Cho, puts the current wave of violence towards Asians in the context of American history. "In the industry I work in, we have a distorted view of Asian Americans," she says.

The more we shift away from the single Eurocentric world view, the better we will be as a country. 

The more we see Americans as more than White, the more we can accept citizens who don't conform to the American self-mage.

Hank Azaria expresses remorse for voicing Apu in 'The Simpsons'

Hank Azaria, left, will no longer give voice to the cartoon character Apu.

ASAM NEWS

Voice actor Hank Azaria who played Apu on the long running show The Simpsons is opening up about his decision not to voice the character after three decades.
“What happened with this character is a window into an important issue,” Azaria told The New York Times. “It’s a good way to start the conversation. I can be accountable and try to make up for it as best I can.”

Azaria has long defended his characterization of the Indian American clerk at a convenience store. He refused to participate in Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu despite persistent attempts by the comedian.

The voice actor now admits the documentary had an impact on him as he reflected on his own Jewish heritage.

“I started thinking, if that character were the only representation of Jewish people in American culture for 20 years, which was the case with Apu, I might not love that,” he said.

Producers of The Simpsons say they respect Azaria’s decision to pull away from the character. They have not said what will happen with Apu or if the character will return to the show with a new actor.

Hank Azaria to retire from voicing controversial Apu

Hank Azaria, left and Apu.

ASAM NEWS

After 30 years playing the voice of Apu in the long-running show Simpsons, Hank Azaria says he’s stepping aside.

The character has long been controversial for its stereotypical depiction of Indian Americans, but the issue gained wide attention two years ago after the release of Hari Kondabolu’s documentary, The Problem with Apu.

There has been some speculation the character would be eliminated from the show.

“All we know there is I won’t be doing the voice anymore, unless there’s someway to transition it or something,” Azaria said exclusively to /Film.

On the Simpson’s, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is an Indian immigrant who works at Kwik-E-Mart. He speaks in a heavy Indian accent and thanks every customer with his catch phrase, “Thank you, come again.”

The voice actor says his decision has been met with agreement from the show’s producers.

“We all made the decision together,” Azaria said. “We all agreed on it. We all feel like it’s the right thing and good about it. The Indian community deserves to know they’ve been heard. Hopefully this is a step towards opening The Simpsons up so even more fans can love it as much as I have without feeling like the show is mocking them personally.”

Kondabolu went to Twitter to plead that the character not be phased out, but changed.

Simpsons to change racist Apu

ASAM NEWS

THE HARSH SPOTLIGHT Indian/American comedian Hari Kondabolu aimed at the offensive and racist Simpson character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon may have had an impact.

Less than two months after Kondabolu’s film The Problem with Apu aired on national TV, Hank Azaria, the voice behind the character, told TV Guide the long running show is looking at making changes.

For the film, Kondabolu interviewed a number of prominent Indian Americans in Hollywood who uniformly condemned the character. Many talked about how Apu lead to them being ridiculed by their peers.

RELATED: South Asians target Simpsons' Apu

 “The idea that anybody, young or old, past or present, was bullied or teased — or worse — based on the character of Apu on The Simpsons, or the voice or any other tropes of the character is distressing, especially in post-9/11 America,”said Azaria. “The idea that anybody was marginalized based on it or had a time was very upsetting to me personally and professionally.”

Azaria made his comments at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena Friday.

“As far as what is going to happen with the character going forward, it’s really not just up to me,” saying the show’s producers have also “given it a lot of thought.” “They will definitely address — maybe publicly, but certainly within the context of the show — what they want to do, if anything, with the character,” he added according to Indian Express.

The Simpsons has long prided itself on being non-apologetic. It’s known for being an unflinching equal opportunity offender. What it could possibly do to make Apu more palatable is questionable. Short of eliminating the character altogether, one has to wonder how much the character will be changed, if at all.

“The idea that anybody, young or old, past or present, was bullied or teased — or worse — based on the character of Apu on The Simpsons, or the voice or any other tropes of the character is distressing, especially in post-9/11 America,”said Azaria. “The idea that anybody was marginalized based on it or had a time was very upsetting to me personally and professionally.”

Azaria made his comments at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena Friday.

“As far as what is going to happen with the character going forward, it’s really not just up to me,” saying the show’s producers have also “given it a lot of thought.” “They will definitely address — maybe publicly, but certainly within the context of the show — what they want to do, if anything, with the character,” he added according to Indian Express.

The Simpsons has long prided itself on being non-apologetic. It’s known for being an unflinching equal opportunity offender. What it could possibly do to make Apu more palatable is questionable. Short of eliminating the character altogether, one has to wonder how much the character will be changed, if at all.

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