Mindy Kaling has revealed the first look at her upcoming adult animated spinoff series, Velma.During a Warner Bros Discovery Upfront presentation on May 18, the 42-year-old star spoke about her character Velma, who is a clumsy but smart member of the Mystery Inc. gang in the original series. Kaling, who voices Velma, also bluntly addressed the criticism of making her titular character South Asian.Animation on HBO Max@AnimationOnMaxFirst look at the adult animated series "VELMA," which reimagines the beloved Scooby-Doo character, presented onstage at the #WBDUpfront by creator Mindy Kaling: @Beet_TV1247244First look at the adult animated series "VELMA," which reimagines the beloved Scooby-Doo character, presented onstage at the #WBDUpfront by creator Mindy Kaling📷: @Beet_TV https://t.co/g9itGMyilx"Hopefully you noticed my Velma is South Asian. If people freak out about that, I don't care."As per Deadline, Mindy Kaling went on to say that if a dog can solve the crime, Velma "can be brown."Mindy is also the executive producer of the HBO Max series that traces Velma Dinkley's origin. According to Deadline, the streamer introduced the series in February 2021 and was criticized online because some fans regarded her role as perpetuating the South Asian brainiac stereotype.Twitter was left divided after Mindy Kaling unveiled the first look of VelmaAfter The Office star revealed the first look of her forthcoming adult animated series Velma, Twitterati quickly chose their side of the controversy. Several users criticized Mindy Kaling for changing the original show's character while sexualizing the plotline. Some also asked the star not to alter what has been represented for decades and make her show with a "South Asian teenage detective."Poe's Law : 3.33 You can (not) redo@LivingScribeThis is just a Mindy Kaling vanity project using Velma as a springboard and it's obvious twitter.com/CultureCrave/s…Culture Crave 🍿@CultureCraveFirst look at Mindy Kaling’s #Velma series for HBO MaxThe #ScoobyDoo spinoff is aimed at adult audiences and will have 10 episodes (via @Variety)72961First look at Mindy Kaling’s #Velma series for HBO MaxThe #ScoobyDoo spinoff is aimed at adult audiences and will have 10 episodes (via @Variety) https://t.co/fnnw5ndYfBThis is just a Mindy Kaling vanity project using Velma as a springboard and it's obvious twitter.com/CultureCrave/s…Mercedes@Mdrake1991@Variety beyond disappointed in @mindykaling & the other creators of this new Velma show.you do NOT need to take a kids/family show and make it adult or explicit.this could've been an ORIGINAL character. this should have been an original character.5@Variety beyond disappointed in @mindykaling & the other creators of this new Velma show.you do NOT need to take a kids/family show and make it adult or explicit.this could've been an ORIGINAL character. this should have been an original character.Josh the Unnacceptable Animator 🇨🇦 🎺🎺@JoshAnimatorWhy does Velma look like Mindy Kaling and not like Velma?Trash.Tired of these woke slef inserts. Just stop. twitter.com/CultureCrave/s…Culture Crave 🍿@CultureCraveFirst look at Mindy Kaling’s #Velma series for HBO MaxThe #ScoobyDoo spinoff is aimed at adult audiences and will have 10 episodes (via @Variety)11512First look at Mindy Kaling’s #Velma series for HBO MaxThe #ScoobyDoo spinoff is aimed at adult audiences and will have 10 episodes (via @Variety) https://t.co/fnnw5ndYfBWhy does Velma look like Mindy Kaling and not like Velma?Trash.Tired of these woke slef inserts. Just stop. twitter.com/CultureCrave/s…Commodore McGuirk@MNetwork0Velma looks like garbage. I don't care if she's Mindy Kaling's self-insert, could be Filipino or Laotian for all I care, I don't want "Scooby-Doo for adults" because I know it'll just be some simple-minded Rick & Morty type raunchy "dramedy".419Velma looks like garbage. I don't care if she's Mindy Kaling's self-insert, could be Filipino or Laotian for all I care, I don't want "Scooby-Doo for adults" because I know it'll just be some simple-minded Rick & Morty type raunchy "dramedy".Circus Potato@BunnyMaskStudio@3CFilmss Ok.Tell me this is a shitpost...Tell me they didn't just go ahead and made Daphne naked, Velma black and this show ties to Scooby Doo and it contains a woman with her brains missing from her skull...4859@3CFilmss Ok.Tell me this is a shitpost...Tell me they didn't just go ahead and made Daphne naked, Velma black and this show ties to Scooby Doo and it contains a woman with her brains missing from her skull...𐎡𐎤𐎫𐎤𐏂-𐎽𐎤𐎱𐎨 🦋@belet_seriMindy Kaling's VELMA tv show reminds me why I dislike modern media as a whole.Velma has become the "I'm not like other girls" trope on steroids bc they only took the surface aspects of her character. She's not a bitchy know it all and I hate that's what she's become.182Mindy Kaling's VELMA tv show reminds me why I dislike modern media as a whole.Velma has become the "I'm not like other girls" trope on steroids bc they only took the surface aspects of her character. She's not a bitchy know it all and I hate that's what she's become. https://t.co/qSrmsdvJUV@jamieagatharose@jamieagatharoseVelma has been around for over 50 years and has seen little to no change in that time. None of the main cast of Scooby-Doo has been changed in that time. This is not Velma, this Mindy Kaling cosplaying as Velma. twitter.com/JamesDFHannah/…James D.F. Hannah@JamesDFHannahYou got people pissed because Velma is South Asian in this version—"THAT'S NOT THE CHARACTER!"—and this is a reminder that this ain't a documentary; it's based on a show about a talking dog. Velma can be whatever they want her to be. Don't like it? Then don't watch. twitter.com/AnimationOnMax…21You got people pissed because Velma is South Asian in this version—"THAT'S NOT THE CHARACTER!"—and this is a reminder that this ain't a documentary; it's based on a show about a talking dog. Velma can be whatever they want her to be. Don't like it? Then don't watch. twitter.com/AnimationOnMax…Velma has been around for over 50 years and has seen little to no change in that time. None of the main cast of Scooby-Doo has been changed in that time. This is not Velma, this Mindy Kaling cosplaying as Velma. twitter.com/JamesDFHannah/…Terence King@T_rayking@Jordynbellamy @dogman_35 @torytho @RinzKloe No. Hanna-Barbera created Velma in 1969 as the orange sweater wearing white nerd and has been for decades. There's no creative interpretation at all. This is just Mindy Kaling self inserting herself as Velma on the show and that's sad. Just create a South Asian teenage detective.4@Jordynbellamy @dogman_35 @torytho @RinzKloe No. Hanna-Barbera created Velma in 1969 as the orange sweater wearing white nerd and has been for decades. There's no creative interpretation at all. This is just Mindy Kaling self inserting herself as Velma on the show and that's sad. Just create a South Asian teenage detective.However, several users extended their support to Kaling, stating that Velma being South Asian showcases representation. They feel that the characters of the animated show should not only depict one race.Mark Hughes@markhughesfilms.@mindykaling's VELMA sounds fantastic, so if you're among the folks crying a/b her skin color here's a special invitation just for you...81.@mindykaling's VELMA sounds fantastic, so if you're among the folks crying a/b her skin color here's a special invitation just for you... https://t.co/G87tN4cYbRScoobyDoocast@ScoobyDoocastA small reminder that Velma is a Latinx character in 2020's SCOOB! and in Scholastic's DAPHNE AND VELMA books. VELMA's not the first time her ethnic background will have been changed and the world is still spinning. I think it's a brave choice. Show us what you got, @mindykaling.132A small reminder that Velma is a Latinx character in 2020's SCOOB! and in Scholastic's DAPHNE AND VELMA books. VELMA's not the first time her ethnic background will have been changed and the world is still spinning. I think it's a brave choice. Show us what you got, @mindykaling. https://t.co/TD7tDFWINLAt_Witts_End@at_witts@BunnyMaskStudio @3CFilmss Velma is South Asian because the creator and lead VA Mindy Kaling is South Asian. Because she wants to represent her ethnicity!3715@BunnyMaskStudio @3CFilmss Velma is South Asian because the creator and lead VA Mindy Kaling is South Asian. Because she wants to represent her ethnicity!Blair, the Basic White Girl - BLM@xJukeaWallxAbsolutely love seeing people mad about "Woke" Velma. Characters get whitewashed all the time, give these characters POC representation more often please. Mindy Kaling nailed it, love to see it. People can stay mad122Absolutely love seeing people mad about "Woke" Velma. Characters get whitewashed all the time, give these characters POC representation more often please. Mindy Kaling nailed it, love to see it. People can stay madHakuna 🖤@HakunaCosJust a reminder that I’m South Asian and cosplay Velma I love having representation from in one of my favorite classic cartoon characters, thank you @mindykaling 🏾164Just a reminder that I’m South Asian and cosplay Velma I love having representation from in one of my favorite classic cartoon characters, thank you @mindykaling 🙌🏾 https://t.co/rGRms0VgJ3James D.F. Hannah@JamesDFHannahYou got people pissed because Velma is South Asian in this version—"THAT'S NOT THE CHARACTER!"—and this is a reminder that this ain't a documentary; it's based on a show about a talking dog. Velma can be whatever they want her to be. Don't like it? Then don't watch. twitter.com/AnimationOnMax…Animation on HBO Max@AnimationOnMaxFirst look at the adult animated series "VELMA," which reimagines the beloved Scooby-Doo character, presented onstage at the #WBDUpfront by creator Mindy Kaling: @Beet_TV1460175First look at the adult animated series "VELMA," which reimagines the beloved Scooby-Doo character, presented onstage at the #WBDUpfront by creator Mindy Kaling📷: @Beet_TV https://t.co/g9itGMyilxYou got people pissed because Velma is South Asian in this version—"THAT'S NOT THE CHARACTER!"—and this is a reminder that this ain't a documentary; it's based on a show about a talking dog. Velma can be whatever they want her to be. Don't like it? Then don't watch. twitter.com/AnimationOnMax…Tore Scooby Fan@ToreScoobyFanI would say most the most active and genuine members of the fandom are more concerned with the content than Velma’s race. But that’s just what I’ve seen! @mindykaling would love to have your voice in the Scooby community in some way! @JayMillyVids @ScoobyAddict twitter.com/wbdadsales/sta…Warner Bros. Discovery Ad Sales@WBDAdSales"You’ve hopefully noticed by now, my Velma is South Asian. And if people freak out about that, I don't care!" - @mindykaling #WBDUpfront 📸 | Getty204"You’ve hopefully noticed by now, my Velma is South Asian. And if people freak out about that, I don't care!" - @mindykaling #WBDUpfront 📸 | Getty https://t.co/qEejB2UDn9I would say most the most active and genuine members of the fandom are more concerned with the content than Velma’s race. But that’s just what I’ve seen! @mindykaling would love to have your voice in the Scooby community in some way! @JayMillyVids @ScoobyAddict twitter.com/wbdadsales/sta…Mindy Kaling addressed the backlash for her character VelmaShe responded to the accusations on Late Night with Seth Meyers in July 2021, stating that fans on Twitter were "supportive" and "happy" when it was announced that she would be voicing the role of Velma but that soon changed."I felt great because these are really intense fans, you know—cartoon, comic book fans, those are huge fans. And especially [for] a legacy show like this. Then it was announced about a month ago that the Velma character would be reimagined as South Asian and people were not happy."Mindy remembers seeing "so not Velma" tweets claiming that many did not perceive a South Asian Velma. She further added:"She's such a great character, she's so smart. And I just couldn't understand how people couldn't imagine a really smart, nerdy girl with terrible eyesight and loved to solve mysteries could not be Indian. Like, there are Indian nerds. It shouldn't be a surprise to people."During the conversation, Mindy noted with Seth Meyers that she recognized she'd have to be careful with the role since she loved Velma so much.Kaling is already an executive producer on HBO Max's The Sex Lives of College Girls. Her Velma spinoff is part of HBO Max's push to increase adult cartoon programs.Morgan@daintymonoIf Scooby Doo Gang was on edtwt: -a lil thread for edtwtTag yourself!8713If Scooby Doo Gang was on edtwt: -a lil thread for edtwtTag yourself! https://t.co/3i2yUVL4YFHanna-Barbera Productions has released numerous Scooby-Doo titles over the years. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated on Cartoon Network took a more mature approach to the characters and franchise from 2010 to 2013, stressing Velma's long-discussed sexual orientation.By sharing a photograph of Velma and the Marcie character in front of a pride flag on his Instagram page in June 2020, producer Tony Cervone revealed that their version of Velma on Mystery Incorporated was, in fact, queer. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostCervone said:"We made our intentions as clear as we could ten years ago. Most of our fans got it. To those that didn't, I suggest you look closer."Further details about Velma, like its release date and other cast members, are yet to be announced.