Homer may not be done strangling Bart after all. Following a slew of reports that The Simpsons was ready to retire the familiar visual gag for good, producers from the long-running animated comedy emerged to pour cold water on the rumors that emerged earlier this week.
"Homer Simpson was unavailable for comment as he was busy strangling Bart," a consultant said in a statement to Nexstar.
Series creator Matt Groening, meanwhile, referred to the reports as "clickbait" in a comic in which Homer, you guessed it, strangles Bart.
The reports emerged following the Season 35 episode titled McMansion & Wife, in which Homer credits his strong handshake to strangling report before adding, "Just kidding. I don't do that anymore. Times have changed."
The gag was quickly picked up by social media and predictably set off a heated debate among fans and longtime observers. As some point out, though, it's been a minute since Homer last strangled Bart. The joke last appeared in a Season 31 episode in which Homer is strangled by NBA star Kareem Abdul Jabbar, giving Homer empathy for Bart.
If it does ultimately end up being retired, it won't be the first Simpsons bit to fall by the wayside. In 2020, Hank Azaria revealed that he was stepping away from Apu, a character that had become controversial owing to the stereotypical portrayal of Indians.
One way or another, The Simpsons continues to roll on, having been renewed through 2025. The good news is that the series is currently enjoying a little of a renaissance, earning praise from fans and critics alike. For more, check out where The Simpsons lands on our list of the Top 100 TV shows of All Time.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
