Apu: the manager of the Simpsons' Kwik-E-Mart

CharacterApu

Behind the Kwik-E-Mart register and his famous "Thank you, come again!" hides a computer science PhD, a graduate of the Springfield Heights Institute of Technology with a thesis on the perfect tic-tac-toe program, married to Manjula and the father of octuplets. The article also follows the controversy: Hari Kondabolu's documentary "The Problem with Apu" in November 2017, the show's response judged inadequate in April 2018, then Hank Azaria's withdrawal on 17 January 2020. A supporting role that tells the story of how The Simpsons evolved.

"Thank you, come again!" Behind the Kwik-E-Mart register, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is one of the most endearing — and most debated — supporting characters in Springfield.

An overqualified immigrant, a tireless shopkeeper and the father of a large family, Apu also sits at the heart of a genuine controversy. Here is the full profile, with the facts.

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Who is Apu Nahasapeemapetilon?

Apu is the owner and manager of the Kwik-E-Mart, Springfield's round-the-clock convenience store. An Indian immigrant and naturalized American citizen (originally from Rahmatpur, in West Bengal, according to the show), he is a relentless worker and a longtime friend of Homer Simpson.

His signature line, delivered to every customer who walks through the door, is "Thank you, come again" ("Merci, à la prochaine !" in the French version).

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The king of the Kwik-E-Mart

The Kwik-E-Mart is a Springfield institution: inflated prices, expired goods and dubious hot dogs do not stop residents from shopping there at all hours. Apu reigns behind his counter, always ready to serve Bart and the rest — with a keen commercial instinct.

☕ Inflated prices and expired goods don't stop Springfield from stocking up at the Kwik-E-Mart at all hours; at home, your last coffee of the evening pours without a trip to Apu's counter, in one of our Simpsons mugs.

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An overqualified father of octuplets

Contrary to appearances, Apu is an extremely well-educated man: he holds a PhD in computer science, earned at the Springfield Heights Institute of Technology, with a thesis devoted to the first perfect tic-tac-toe program. On the personal side, he marries Manjula, with whom he becomes the father of octuplets: Anoop, Uma, Nabendu, Poonam, Priya, Sandeep, Sashi and Gheet.

🖱️ The perfect program in Apu's thesis only had the nine squares of a tic-tac-toe grid to defend; at your own computer, your mouse covers far more ground, and our Simpsons mouse pads give it the room it needs.

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Apu's voice actors

In the original version, Apu was voiced from 1990 to 2020 by Hank Azaria — also the voice of Moe and Chief Wiggum. In the French version, he was played by Patrick Guillemin (seasons 1 to 9), then by Pierre Laurent from season 10 on.

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The controversy around the character

Since the late 2010s, Apu has been at the center of a debate about the representation of Indian people. The documentary "The Problem with Apu", made by Indian American comedian Hari Kondabolu, was released on 19 November 2017 and criticized the character as a stereotype. The show responded in the episode "No Good Read Goes Unpunished" (8 April 2018), a response several commentators judged inadequate.

On 17 January 2020, Hank Azaria announced that he would no longer voice Apu. On 26 June 2020, The Simpsons production stated that the show would no longer have white actors voice non-white characters. In April 2021, Azaria publicly apologized for his performance.

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Summary table

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FAQ

• Who is Apu in The Simpsons?
  The owner of the Kwik-E-Mart, Springfield's convenience store. He is an overqualified Indian immigrant, married to Manjula and the father of octuplets.
• What is Apu's cult line?
  "Thank you, come again" ("Merci, à la prochaine !" in the French version), which he says to his customers.
• Why is Apu controversial?
  The character has been criticized as an Indian stereotype, notably through the documentary "The Problem with Apu" (2017). In 2020, his voice actor Hank Azaria stepped down from the role.
• Who voices Apu in French?
  Patrick Guillemin for the early seasons, then Pierre Laurent from season 10 on.

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Conclusion

A tireless shopkeeper, a devoted father and an essential figure in Springfield, Apu embodies both the audience's attachment to the show and the questions it raises today. A character who, behind his counter, says a great deal about how The Simpsons have evolved.

🥿 The Kwik-E-Mart never closes and Apu mans its counter as a tireless shopkeeper; your own day ends at your front door, and that's where you slip into our Simpsons slippers for the rest of the evening.

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