‘Simpsons’ Actor Hank Azaria Willing To Step Aside As Apu

The Simpsons is getting ready to take the crown as the longest running scripted TV series in the history of entertainment, but it seems like more people are talking about the controversy over one of the show’s most beloved characters than the show itself. Wer’re talking about Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the owner of Springfield’s Quickie Mart.

The character has been voiced by Hank Azaria for the last 29 years, but in the last couple of years, the idea of having a white man give a stereotypically Indian voice to the character has come under fire. While promoting his IFC series, Brockmire, on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night, Azaria took some time to give his thoughts on the matter and even volunteered to step down from the role.