Los Angeles: The makers of “The Simpsons” will remove their popular episode featuring the voice of late Michael Jackson from their archives. The decision comes following allegations in the documentary “Leaving Neverland“, detailing the accounts of Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck who say the pop star sexually abused them and groomed them as children at his Neverland estate.
In an interview to Wall Street Journal, the long-time running show’s executive producer James L. Brooks announced that the classic episode featuring Jackson’s voice will be removed from circulation, dailymail.co.uk reports. “The episode called ‘Stark Raving Dad’, which appears in season three, will be pulled from syndication and streaming services,” Brooks said.
In the episode, Jackson plays Leon Kompowsky, a mental hospital patient who ends up sharing a room with Homer Simpson. In the episode, he sings his classic “Billie Jean” and shows off his iconic moonwalk dance moves. “This was a treasured episode. There are a lot of great memories we have wrapped up in that one, and this certainly doesn’t allow them to remain,” Brooks said on the episode.
The allegations re-stirred Jackson’s controversy over the alleged abuse of boys. Talking about the decision, Brooks said: “The documentary gave evidence of monstrous behaviour. I’m against book burning of any kind. But this is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter.”
