Homer Simpson is done strangling his son, Bart, and it all has to do with modern sentiments, it seems — a decision by showrunners that’s strongly dividing fans.
The pivot away from child abuse (albeit, in animated form) is just now making the rounds — coming to in the 3rd episode of Season 35, titled ‘McMansion & Wife,’ in which HS meets his new neighbor … and declares that he won’t be choking his cartoon son anymore.
In a new Simpsons episode, Homer Simpson reveals that he stopped strangling Bart as times has changed. pic.twitter.com/LUR06RbqbY
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The way this becomes revealed is through a handshake, which the neighbor points out as firm — and then Homer responds … “See, Marge, strangling the boy paid off.” He then follows up and says … “Just kidding, I don’t do that anymore. Times have changed.”
Fans took this to be a not-so-subtle hint from Disney — which owns the ‘Simpsons’ IP now — that they were retiring the long-running gag … which has been a staple joke for years.
Before this episode … the new masters of ‘The Simpsons’ had actually already toyed with the idea of Homer evolving and refraining from strangling Bart … with Season 22 featuring Homer going to therapy and learning the harm he was causing by attacking his son.
However, in the seasons since … HS has choked Bart on and off, and the last time he did it in the show was back in 2019/2020. Now, however, it seems like the creators are acknowledging … it’s over for good.
Of course, with Homer hanging up his strangling ways … there’s some pushback, with a handful of folks saying ‘The Simpsons’ has “gone woke.” Others, meanwhile, are praising it.