The Simpsons producers pull Michael Jackson episode
Child abuse allegations in Leaving Neverland prompt cartoon’s makers to act
An episode of The Simpsons featuring Michael Jackson’s voice has been pulled by the show’s producers following the broadcast of an HBO documentary into sexual abuse allegations against the singer.
The long-running cartoon featured Jackson in 1991, during its third series, in an episode titled Stark Raving Dad. The singer voiced a character in a psychiatric ward who believed he was the pop star.
Producers of The Simpsons announced they have decided to remove the episode from streaming services and TV channels which broadcast the show, with executive producer James L. Brooks telling The Wall Street Journal it was “the only choice to make”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Fellow executive producers Matt Groening and Al Jean agreed with the decision, Brooks said, telling the newspaper: “The guys I work with – where we spend our lives arguing over jokes – were of one mind on this.
“This was a treasured episode. There are a lot of great memories we have wrapped up in that one, and this certainly doesn’t allow them to remain.”
He added: “I’m against book-burning of any kind. But this is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter.”
In the documentary, Leaving Neverland, two men, James Safechuck and Wade Robson, say they were befriended by the so-called King of Pop and abused from the ages of 7 and 10 respectively in the early 1990s.
It “prompted a mixture of horror and disbelief when it ran on US cable channel HBO on Sunday and Monday”, says ABC News.
Jackson’s family have denied the allegations against the singer and denounced the documentary.
The estate claimed that, by showing Leaving Neverland, HBO was “violating a non-disparagement clause from a 1992 contract”, reports The Guardian.
It is not the first time The Simpsons has removed one of its episodes from circulation. Following the 9/11 terror attacks the producers pulled the 1997 episode titled The City of New York vs Homer Simpson.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How could escalation in the Middle East affect the global economy?
Today's Big Question Oil prices have already risen but wider conflict could see supply chains disrupted more broadly
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Helene's death toll surpasses 200'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Pig butchering: one of the world's fastest growing scams
In The Spotlight Beijing is cracking down on the crypto con but this has only pushed it worldwide
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
A brief history of third parties in the US
In Depth Though none of America's third parties have won a presidential election, they have nonetheless had a large impact on the country's politics
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Modern royal scandals from around the world
The Explainer From Spain to the UAE, royal families have often been besieged by negative events
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published