The Simpsons has confirmed that a 1991 episode starring Michael Jackson has been taken off air in the wake of sex abuse allegations against the music icon.
As The Wall Street Journal reports, Stark Raving Dad has been pulled from circulation – with Simpsons producer James L Brooks saying that “it feels clearly like the only choice to make.”
It comes directly after the airing of Leaving Neverland, which featured extensive testimonies from James Safechuck and Wade Robson who both allege that they were abused by Jackson as children.
“The guys I work with– where we all spend our lives arguing over jokes — were of one mind on this,” said Brooks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t70Gf4Fcao
“It feels clearly the only choice to make. The documentary gave evidence of monstrous behaviour. I’m against book burning of any kind. But this is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter.”
In the beloved episode, Jackson appears as Leon Kompowsky, a psychiatric hospital patient who ends up sharing a room with Homer Simpson. Kompowsky tries to convince Homer that he is the late King of Pop, and is even seen singing Billie Jean and showing off his legendary moonwalk dance moves.
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Brooks added: “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.”
The show’s decision to sever all ties with Jackson comes days after radio stations across the world began boycotting Jackson’s music in direct response to the allegations.
Meanwhile, the film’s director director Dan Reed has said he would consider making a sequel featuring more alleged victims of Jackson.