The Simpsons fans shocked after creator reveals the only thing that would end the show

Creator of The Simpsons Matt Groening has revealed the one thing that would end the show, and it left fans shocked.

The series, which has now run for 36 seasons since 1989, is the longest running animated TV show in American television history.

Groening and The Simpsons have shown no signs of slowing down either, after it was confirmed earlier this year that the show had been renewed right up until season 40.

This most recent season however ended with the death of Marge Simpson, leading many fans to likely start thinking a bit harder about what could bring the record breaking show to an end.

Marge thankfully isn’t actually dead for real, and will be returning for the upcoming season 37 and beyond.

That said, Groening’s revelation of the one thing that could end the show is similarly dark.

The Simpsons just recently killed off Marge, but not for good (Fox)

The showrunner spoke at San Diego Comic-Con after the recent release of season 36 and was asked about the future of the show.

Groening said that he had at one time though that the most recent instalment would be the last of the show before adding: “But no, there’s no end in sight. We’re going to keep going until somebody dies.”

Fans were, understandably, a bit shocked that he said the quiet bit out loud, with one viral tweet literally saying: “YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY THIS OUT LOUD MATT JESUS CHRIST.”

Another fan of the show replied saying: “Even as a joke, imagine putting it out there to the aging cast of your show that you will be working until you die.

“They let Milhouse retire and said, ‘Never again’.”

The Simpsons writers held a panel at San Diego Comic Con over the weekend (Chelsea Guglielmino via Getty Images)

Pamela Hayden, the voice actor who used to play Milhouse, announced she was leaving the role in late 2024 after over 700 episodes as the bespectacled kid.

The main four members of the Simpsons family are voiced by Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, and Yeardley Smith, all of whom are 67, 74, 67, and 61 respectively.

One fan however had a far more morbid prediction, saying: “I guarantee they will use AI to continue the show for the next 200 years.”

Groening’s announcement of the potential end date of the series was not the only controversial statement he made at Comic-Con, with the show’s creator also making predictions for the death of another mainstay of American culture.

In this case, it wasn’t about The Simpsons, but about President Donald Trump.

Groening had another Trump prediction (Fox)

The show famously managed to predict Donald Trump’s announcement that he would run for President back when he was simply the guy off of The Apprentice.

When talking about the end of the show, Groening went on to add: “When you-know-who dies, The Simpsons predicts there will be dancing in the streets. Except President [J.D.] Vance will ban dancing.”

Based on how often The Simpsons gets things right, if the orange President kicks the bucket any time soon, I wouldn’t bet against Groening.