Featured Image Credit: Fox/Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Topics: Michael Jackson, Celebrity, TV and Film, The Simpsons, Disney, Disney Plus
Katherine Sidnell
Having first arrived on our screens in 1989, The Simpsons has had some huge cameos over the years.
From A-Lister actors to scientist Stephen Hawking, the animated sitcom has seemingly had every celebrity make a guest appearance.
However, Michael Jackson fans will not be able to watch his side-splitting scenes even though all 34 seasons have been uploaded to Disney+.
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Entitled Stark Raving Dad, the third season episode sees Homer institutionalised after wearing a pink shirt to work and being labelled ‘free-thinking anarchist’ by Mr Burns.
Having been forced to do a psych exam, the beer-drinking dad decides to let Bart fill in the all-important paperwork which leads to him being hospitalised.
Whilst at the mental health institute, Homer shares his room with gentle giant Leon Kompowsky (played by Michael Jackson).
Whilst the depictions of mental health are pretty problematic, it’s heart-warming stuff as the pair bond.
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Though the episode was beloved by fans, it was later pulled from broadcast by 20th Century Fox after the Leaving Neverland documentary aired.
The 2019 film alleges that the ‘Thriller’ hitmaker committed acts of child abuse throughout his career.
Decades later, when Disney acquired the series the episode was never reinstated – with the House of Mouse uploading over 500 other episodes to the streaming service.
It’s not surprising that this decision was made, with exec producer James L Brook even discussing the issue with the Wall Street Journal.
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“The guys I work with – where we spend our lives arguing over jokes – we're of one mind on this,” he explained, referring his discussion with producers Matt Groening and Al Jean about the episode.
“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.”
However, many other problematic episodes remain on the Disney+ service, including many that include now retired character Apu.