Chuck Lorre blasted over new sitcom, United States of Al

Chuck Lorre is getting backlash over his new sitcom, United States of Al.

Famed sitcom producer, Chuck Lorre, who’s had his fingers in the likes of Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, Mom, and Two and a Half Men, has gotten some heat thanks to his yet-to-air next venture, United States of Al.

Sitcom fans have been giving Lorre a hard time due to his handling of one of its leads, Awalmir, an Afghan interpreter for US Marine vet, Riley, that’s gone back to Ohio to start back up his life as an upstanding civilian.

Awalmir, on the other hand, is on a journey to start his life anew close by his side. The problem stems from just the short trailer that dropped earlier this month debuting the series to everyone before its April 1 air date.

It’s been mixed, but overall holds criticism for its handling, casting, and all of the above when it comes to the Awalmir, who’s being played by Adhir Kalyan, an Indian actor with roots in South Africa.

Lorre was even called “ television’s Wonder Bread” by singer-actress, Pia Glenn, who had her gripes with the series that she knew of since it was in development.

On the other hand, its secondary showrunner, Reza Aslan, took it upon himself to defend the series by telling the people criticizing it to learn of the people behind it, including its four Afghan writers.

“Maybe learn a little about the show, its creators, its producers, its four Afghan writers, its plot, and pretty much everything else before you announce your opinion of it. Because it’s my show, I can make sure that it is written and produced by Afghans and Muslims. That it uses the format to reframe the perception that people have of both. That it portrays a Muslim Afghan protagonist in a true and honest light… Fun fact: you haven’t seen it so can’t really comment from a place of knowledge now, can you?”

Much like a majority of Lorre’s sitcoms, United States of Al is set to air on CBS on April 1. It’s hard to say how the series will handle the criticism, but there isn’t that much longer to wait before the full series starts up.