When the Disney+ streaming service introduced ultimate November, The Simpsons enthusiasts were shocked to search out that one in particular memorable episode, the premiere of the series' third season, was unavailable. "Stark Raving Dad" featured the voice of Michael Jackson as Leon Kompowsky and remains to be considered to be a fan-favorite over 28 years since its preliminary unencumber, but it surely was reputedly removed from circulation.
The Simpsons' showrunners have published that they chose to take down the episode due to issues that it was utilized by Michael Jackson "for something other than what we’d intended."
Footage from the documentary Leaving Neverland, which contains testimony from two men who allege that Jackson sexually abused them as kids, caused them to believe the singer secretly used his visitor look to "groom boys."
Michael's Request To Guest Star On The Simpsons
Michael Jackson was a fan of The Simpsons' first season and referred to as The Simpsons creator Matt Groening providing to do a visitor spot in a future episode. Groening revealed in a 2018 interview with The Weekly that he to begin with hung up on Jackson “as a result of he has a voice that sounds like any person doing a Michael Jackson bit," but when they finally talked, Jackson said he “loved Bart and wanted to be on the show.”
This led to the creation of "Stark Raving Dad," the final episode in the production run for season two which ultimately aired as the premiere for season three, over a year after its completion.
In the episode, Homer gets sent to a mental institution where he shares a room with a man named Leon Kompowsky, who talks and sings like Michael Jackson. Michael provided the speaking voice for Leon, but the character's singing voice was performed by a soundalike due to contractual obligations Jackson had with his record company. Jackson's guest appearance was also uncredited for similar contractual reasons and wasn't officially confirmed until Groenig's 2018 interview.
In 1998, TV Guide listed "Stark Raving Dad" in its list of top twelve Simpsons episodes, and in 2011, CinemaBlend's Eric Eisenberg gave it even higher praise, saying that it "is completely constructed, is stuffed with each deep stomach laughs and tears, and is solely the largest episode of The Simpsons."
Leaving Neverland Led To His Episode Being Pulled From Syndication
Shortly after the premiere of the documentary Leaving Neverland, which details allegations against Jackson of exploiting children, The Simpsons pulled "Stark Raving Dad" from circulation. Fans quickly noticed its absence from Disney+ upon the streaming service's release last November and speculated about what might have happened.
Showrunner Al Jean justified the episode's removal by claiming that Jackson used his cameo on the show for a “false purpose," and told The Daily Beast that the decision to pull the episode, which he co-wrote, was tough. However, while he mentioned that "it wasn’t something that makes me happy," he agreed with the determination “totally."
This Simpsons Showrunners Worry Jackson Used His Episode To "Groom" Boys
When Jean was asked to elaborate on what he meant by his claim that Jackson had a "false goal" for lending his voice to "Stark Raving Dad," he said that after watching Leaving Neverland, he and his fellow showrunners believe the singer used his appearance on the popular animated series to "groom boys."
“It wasn’t just a comedy to him, it was something that was used as a tool. And I strongly believe that. That, to me, is my belief, and it’s why I think removing it is appropriate," he mentioned. “I believe it was phase of what he used to groom boys. I really don’t know, and I will have to be very careful because this is not something I know individually, but so far as what I believe, that’s what I feel. And that makes me very, very sad.”
Taking Down "Stark Raving Dad" Felt Like Their Only Option
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal ultimate year, Simpsons executive producer James L. Brooks stood in the back of the decision to remove "Stark Raving Dad" from circulate.
Brooks said that it “feels clearly like the simplest option to make," adding that while he initially wanted to believe that Jackson was falsely accused, Leaving Neverland "gave evidence of monstrous habits."
“I’m against book burning of any kind. But this is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter.”
While some Simpsons fans have praised the showrunners for taking a stand against Jackson's alleged sexual assault, Slate's Isaac Butler feels like Jackson's episode "not totally belongs to its creators" and believes that "Stark Raving Dad" should still be available to those who wish to watch it.
"Consigning “Stark Raving Dad” to the dustbin of history is a mistake, an offense against art and the medium of tv, and section of a rising development of companies using their consolidated energy and the demise of bodily media to do harm keep an eye on by destroying works by means of troublesome artists," wrote Butler. "It belongs, on some stage, to all of us."
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