Hank Azaria apologises for 'racist' The Simpsons character Apu 13 Apr, 2021 10:32 PM 3 minutes to read news.com.au Hank Azaria, the actor who has voiced The Simpsons character Apu for three decades, has apologised for his portrayal's racist connotations. The Indian convenience store clerk was a much-loved fixture in the cartoon series, but criticism emerged in 2017 that the show's producers had for decades relied on offensive stereotypes. Apu was "sidelined" and Azaria announced last January that he would no longer voice the character. Apu, store owner from TV Series The Simpsons. Photo / New York Times Now, he has issued an apology for his involvement in the hurt felt by the Indian community, telling Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast: "Just because there were good intentions it doesn't mean there weren't real negative consequences to the thing that I am accountable for."