Well, this is actually really sad!
I don't like how they handle it. A character that has been on the air for more than 30 years can't just be written out. Basically, the whole thing is just an opinion that some people have about Apu, but this doesn't have to affect the other people, who love the character. If you don't like a character, just mute the TV and walk away. You are not forced to watch something you don't like! It is really sad, because Apu is one of the best supporting characters and having him written out or replaced by another will destroy a legacy! Take "Family Guy" for example. It is crude, offensive and sometimes disgusting to watch, but nobody requested Seth MacFarlane to write a character out and this is very strange considering the show is full of stereotypes (literally the whole show is a stereotype!).
So, if "Family Guy" can have stereotypical characters, why can't "The Simpsons", which is also a show full of stereotypes have?