The Simpsons retires Homer strangling Bart as ‘times have changed’

Steve Hopkins

‘Why you little…’

Life at 742 Evergreen Terrace has kept millions of people entertained since The Simpsons first aired in December 1989.

But while the antics of bad-boy Bart, socially-conscious Lisa, baby Maggie and their parents Homer and Marge kept everyone in hysterics, family life was somewhat – if not always – dysfunctional. It’s what made it funny.

But like everything, humour often doesn’t age well.

Turns out Homer strangling 10-year-old son Bart, lifting him off the ground and squeezing his throat so tight his tongue pops out and his eyes bulge isn’t a timeless gag.

Apparently, the show’s creator Matt Groening wanted to demonstrate Homer’s rage but, lacking the desire to show him spanking his son, chose strangling – which he thought was so unrealistic it would be comedic.

And no one had a problem with it for a long time. However, earlier this week, one X user expressed his surprise that after 30-odd years, The Simpsons had retired the strangling-gag.

“Took them long enough,” he wrote.

Yes, Homer has in fact stopped strangling Bart and the show has addressed the reasons why.

In season 35, episode 3, titled ‘McMansion & Wife’ – which aired last month – Evergreen Terrace welcomes a new family.

When Homer introduces himself to his new neighbour Thayer Blackburn, the character remarks on how firm the king of sector 7g’s handshake is.

“See, Marge, strangling the boy paid off,” Homer says to his wife, before adding:

“Just kidding, I don’t do that anymore. Times have changed.”

I just found out that, after over 30 years, The Simpsons has finally retired their long-running gag of Homer strangling Bart.

Took them long enough lmao pic.twitter.com/JuHyNu1eiK

— Simon A. (Baby Lamb Creations) (@BabyLamb5) November 2, 2023

The Simpsons has retired Homer strangling Bart because ‘times have changed’

However, this isn’t the first time Homer’s problematic parenting has been examined.

Homer penchant for strangulation was also addressed in a season 22 episode titled ‘Love Is a Many Strangled Thing’.

In the episode, the therapist Dr Zander (voiced by Paul Rudd) tries to get Homer to see the error of his ways when he strangles his son.

Its plot states: “Dr Zander’s friend, the towering basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, teaches Homer what it feels like ‘to be young, small, and terrified’ by strangling him mercilessly all the time, even going as far as letting his friends strangle Homer as well.

“Unfortunately, the therapy works too well and Homer can no longer strangle Bart, even when the boy misbehaves, because he is traumatised by the therapeutic session.”

However, while the episode put Homer’s strangling of his child under the microscope, the character continued to do it for several more seasons.