Following the release of The Problem of Apu, a documentary by comedian Hari Kondabolu which delved into the detrimental stereotypes faced by South Asians due to the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons, the series has faced increasing scrutiny over its portrayal of the character. In its most recent episode, the show attempted to confront the ongoing controversy, but its response has been criticized as tone-deaf and lacking genuine acknowledgment of past mistakes.
The episode titled “No Good Read Goes Unpunished,” which is the fifteenth installment of the show’s 29th season, features Marge reading a modified version of “The Princess in the Garden” to her daughter Lisa. The book, originally penned by Heloise Hodgeson Burwell, is a reworking of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic “The Secret Garden.” Marge’s edits aim to make the story more culturally relevant, but they ultimately shorten the narrative and compromise the character’s emotional journey, leaving Lisa disappointed.
The Simpsons then makes an unexpected reference to the Apu controversy through this storyline. Marge questions what actions she should take regarding the story’s changes, to which Lisa responds by breaking the fourth wall: “It’s hard to say. Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect.
