One of the most memorable âSimpsonsâ episodes featuring a character voiced by Michael Jackson has been pulled from circulation following the release of a new documentary about the late pop star.
The episode in question, titled âStark Raving Dad,â aired as the showâs third season premiere in 1991. Jackson voiced the character of Leon Kompowsky, a patient who meets Homer Simpson at a mental institution and claims to be the famed singer.
Although Jackson wasnât credited for his role in the episode for contractual reasons, one of the showâs writers and executive producers Matt Groening confirmed it was the starâs voice behind the character years later.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the cartoonâs executive producer James L. Brooks said he, Groening, and screenwriter Al Jean decided to remove the Jackson episode from cable TV stations, streaming services, and future DVD box sets after watching the HBO documentary âLeaving Neverland.â
Brooks said he and the others felt it was âclearly the only choice to makeâ in light of the explosive allegations against the late superstar. In the documentary, two men claim Jackson sexually abused them as children.
Before his death in 2009, Jackson adamantly denied he molested any children. The starâs family attempted to block the documentary from airing and is currently suing HBO.
Brooks, on the other hand, said he found the allegations made in the documentary heartbreaking and convincing.
âThis was a treasured episode. There are a lot of great memories we have wrapped up in that one, and this certainly doesnât allow them to remain,â he told The Wall Street Journal.
Representatives for The Simpsons did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Simpsons producers said it will be some time before the episode is completely removed from all platforms, but they have started the process.
âIâm against book burning of any kind. But this is our book, and weâre allowed to take out a chapter,â Brooks said.