Simpsons to pull Jackson episode over abuse claims
A “TREASURED” episode of The Simpsons featuring the voice of Michael Jackson is to be removed from television in response to the Leaving Neverland documentary.
The executive producer of The Simpsons said the episode could no longer remain in circulation in light of the “monstrous behaviour” described in the film.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck allege that they were groomed and sexually abused by Jackson as boys.
In the 1991 episode of The Simpsons titled “Stark Raving Dad”, Homer is admitted to a mental hospital and Jackson voices the character of a patient who believes he is a pop star. At the time, his involvement in the episode was a secret, and was only confirmed years later.
James L Brooks, the producer, said he had agreed with Matt Groening and Al Jean, the creators, that it should not be shown again, despite it having been one of their favourite episodes.
“It feels clearly the only choice to make,” Mr Brooks told The Wall Street Journal, saying they had made the decision after watching Leaving Neverland.
“The guys I work with – where we spend our lives arguing over jokes – were of one mind on this,” he said, adding that he found the documentary convincing and heartbreaking.
“This was a treasured episode. There are a lot of great memories ... and this certainly doesn’t allow them to remain.
“I’m against book burning of any kind. But this is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter.”
Removing the episode will take time, because The Simpsons is available on international television channels, streaming services and DVDS. But Mr Brooks said “the process has started”.
The Simpsons is broadcast in the UK by Channel 4 and Sky. Spokesmen for both broadcasters said they had no plans to air the episode.
Some radio stations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand have banned Jackson records, but there have been no announcements by British stations. Thriller Live, the West End show, has no plans to close.
The Jackson family have denied the allegations, describing them as “all about the money”. The singer, who died in 2009, still has his defenders, including Mark Lester, the British former child actor who starred in Oliver! and later formed a friendship with Jackson.
He said of Leaving Neverland: “It made me feel quite sick. This is not the Michael Jackson that I knew for over 30 years. This is not the man that my children knew.”
Jackson’s daughter, Paris, spoke out on social media to urge fans to be “calm” in their response. She appeared to defend her father when she said that “lies” are told about “everyone with a good heart”, adding: “Do you really think that it’s possible to tear his name down?”