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Hank Azaria is opening up about his decision to stop voicing Apu on The Simpsons.

“Once I realized that that was the way this character was thought of, I just didn’t want to participate in it anymore,” the 55-year-old actor told The New York Times in a new interview. “It just didn’t feel right.”

Hank had voiced the character since his introduction on the long running show in 1990.

Viewers and fans of the show have had longtime issues with the Indian character being voiced by a white man, and the 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu focused in on how people perceive Indian people.

“What happened with this character is a window into an important issue,” he adds. “It’s a good way to start the conversation. I can be accountable and try to make up for it as best I can.”

Hank also shared that after the documentary was released he spent several years reading articles and essays about representation and attending “seminars about racism and social consciousness.”

The Simpsons have just recently been renewed for two more seasons.

Hank Azaria is taking a step back from one of his roles on The Simpsons.

The voice actor will no longer portray Apu, the show’s Indian Kwik-E-Mart proprietor who has been a part of the series since its first season.

“All we know there is I won’t be doing the voice anymore, unless there’s some way to transition it or something. We all made the decision together… We all agreed on it. We all feel like it’s the right thing and good about it,” Hank told Slashfilm.

He added, “What they’re going to do with the character is their call. It’s up to them, and they haven’t sorted it out yet. All we’ve agreed on is I won’t do the voice anymore.”

The decision comes after the character was criticized in a 2017 documentary titled The Problem With Apu, which noted the character was portrayed by a white actor and led to demeaning stereotypes of Indian-Americans.

After its release, Hank volunteered to leave the role and “help transition it into something new.”

Greg Berlanti and Ava DuVernay were recipients of the top honor of the night at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s 2019 Patron of the Artists Awards on Thursday (November 7) at the Wallis Annenberg Center of the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif.

They were both presented with the Patron of the Artists Award.

Greg, who is a television producer, showrunner, and director, received his award from legendary producer and writer Norman Lear.

Ava, who is an award-winning writer and director, received her award from actor David Oyelowo, who starred in her movie Selma.

Hank Azaria opened the event with a speech and there were musical performances from Harriet‘s Cynthia Erivo, This Is Us‘ Chrissy Metz, former The Voice contestant Wé McDonald, and Grmamy winner Patti Austin.

Chrissy, who stars in the movie Breakthrough, performed a song written for the film by Diane Warren, who joined her at the event.

FYI: Ava is wearing a Greta Constantine gown.

Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, and Fred Armisen are all smiles as they arrive at IFC”s event for shows Brockmire and Documentary Now! on Wednesday (May 31) at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif.

The three funny men and writers of Documentary Now! attend the event to promote the upcoming third season of their documentary-style comedy show.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Seth Meyers

Joining the guys at the event were stars of Brockmire Amanda Peet and Hank Azaria – which just recently wrapped its first season.

10+ pictures of the stars at the event…

Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro couple up for the premiere of their upcoming HBO film Wizard of Lies on Thursday night (May 11) at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

The co-stars were joined at the event by their co-stars Kristen Connolly, Alessandro Nivola, and Hank Azaria along with Michelle‘s husband David Kelley, actress Jennifer Morrison, and Harry Connick Jr with his wife Jill Goodacre and daughter Sarah Connick.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Michelle Pfeiffer

The film “examines Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme �” his deception, lies and cover-up, all as the financier’s wife and sons are catapulted into a harsh and unrelenting spotlight.

Wizard of Lies premieres on Sunday, May 20 on HBO.

FYI: Michelle is wearing a Monse suit, Prada shoes, and Fred Leighton jewelry while carrying a Leiber bag. Kristen is wearing Tadashi Shoji and carrying a Rubeus Milano clutch.

10+ pictures inside of the stars attending the premiere…

One of Richard Gere‘s most famous films in his filmography is without a doubt Pretty Woman – but that doesn’t mean he’s sitting around catching reruns of the beloved 1990 romantic comedy.

While making an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night (April 11), the 67-year-old actor admitted it’s been 27 years since he last saw the film, co-starring Julia Roberts.

“You want to know the truth. I saw it with her [Julia] – when we were in previews,” Richard revealed to Jimmy. “That was twenty, you guys tell me, how long ago was that. 27 years ago, something like that.”

Pictured: Richard all suited up while hitting the carpet at the premiere of his latest film Norman held at The Whitby Hotel on Wednesday (April 12) in New York City.

Also in attendance at the screening was Richard‘s co-stars Lior Ashkenazi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Steve Buscemi, Hank Azaria, writer-director Joseph Cedar, as well as Edie Falco, Tony Bennett and his wife Susan Crow.

FYI: Charlotte is wearing Saint Laurent.

Jon Hamm looks handsome as he arrives on the blue carpet at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards held at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday afternoon (February 25) in Santa Monica, Calif.

The 45-year-old actor looked scruffy in a gray suit as he was joined on the carpet by fellow studs Edgar Ramirez, David Oyelowo, Aldis Hodge, Hank Azaria, and Jesse Plemons.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Jon Hamm

In case you missed it, Jon reunited with his Mad Men cast mates the night before in Beverly Hills!

FYI: Edgar is wearing a Hugo Boss suit.