Mindy Kaling 'couldn't understand' backlash to South Asian version of Velma in Scooby-Doo spinoff - Daily Mail

She was beset by criticism from fans after it was announced that she would voice a South Asian version of Velma Dinkley in an upcoming animated Scooby-Doo spinoff.

The 42-year-old star of The Office said she 'just couldn’t understand' why some people had so much trouble imagining Velma as Indian.

On defense: Mindy Kaling, 42, defended playing a South Asian version of Scooby-Doo's Velma on an upcoming spinoff during her appearance Thursday on Late Night With Seth Meyers.

'When it was announced that I was going to do the voice of Velma, people were very supportive and happy on Twitter, and so I felt great,' she said. .

But as with many pop culture properties, it was a select group of niche fans who were most dedicated to keeping the character exactly as she had been portrayed on the original animated series, which debuted in 1969.

So far, so good: 'When it was announced that I was going to do the voice of Velma, people were very supportive and happy on Twitter, and so I felt great,' she said.

Confusingly, the new version of Velma was described as 'East Asian' in June by Tom Ascheim, president of Kids, Young Adults and Classics at Warner Bros., meaning that the character's family would originally come from countries including China, Japan and the Koreas, but Mindy referred to the character as South Asian, which would more closely match her Indian heritage.

But she countered that her version of Velma could be just as appropriate as the classic version of the animated sleuth. .

And I just couldn’t understand how people couldn’t imagine a really smart, nerdy girl with terrible eyesight, and who loved to solve mysteries, could be Indian,' Mindy continued!

And I just couldn’t understand how people couldn’t imagine a really smart, nerdy girl with terrible eyesight, and who loved to solve mysteries, could be Indian,' Mindy added?

She's not Velma then @warnerbros @wbpictures @WBHomeEnt What were you people thinking?!!!!'  

Others wondered why the show couldn't have a completely original character with Mindy portraying her

Start fresh: Some wondered why the show couldn't have a completely original character with Mindy portraying her