Homer Simpson has announced that he will no longer strangle his son Bartholomew in new episodes of the sitcom following the escapades of his family, The Simpsons.
Homer Simpson has announced that he will no longer strangle his son Bartholomew in new episodes of the sitcom following the escapades of his family, The Simpsons. Times have changed since the show debuted in 1989, including the designs of the characters and additional family members. According to The Independent, despite the running gag being a mainstay in the series, it has not been without its detractors.
Homer makes a joke in an episode that aired on Oct 22, titled “McMansion and Wife” when introducing himself to his newest neighbor Thayer. As Thayer shakes his hand and remarks how firm Homer’s grip is, Homer says to Marge, “See, Marge, strangling the boy paid off,”
Homer then adds, “Just kidding, I don’t do that anymore. Times have changed.”
Though the episode aired on Oct. 22, it created a buzz online as users reacted once clips of the show started circulating on Twitter/X on Nov. 2.
At that time, the hiatus on strangulation was not made permanent as two seasons later, in an episode titled “Love Is A Many-Splintered Thing” Homer again strangles Bart, this time in front of his son’s BFF, Milhouse Van Houten. The event, leaves Milhouse traumatized. The Simpsons have generally received praise for ending this gag, even if some users are frustrated that it has taken the series too long to respond to cultural shifts.
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Source: Black Enterprise
