These past few weeks have seen the fallout of the controversial Michael Jackson documentary, Leaving Neverland, unfold. Radio stations around the world have pulled Jackson’s music from their playlist as these new allegations have come to light.
Last week, the Michael Jackson blacklisting hit television, with longstanding tv show The Simpsons pulling their Michael Jackson episode ‘Stark Raving Dad’ from circulation.
The Wall Street Journal reported that James L. Brooks, executive producer of The Simpsons, had made the decision to pull the 1991 episode from television and streaming services, explaining that it was “the only choice to make.”
Now, in a recent interview with The Daily Beast, showrunner Al Jean has opened up about the decision to remove the episode, as well as revealing a dark theory that Jackson used his episode to “groom boys.”
“What saddens me is, if you watch that documentary [Leaving Neverland]—which I did, and several of us here did—and you watch that episode, honestly, it looks like the episode was used by Michael Jackson for something other than what we’d intended it,” Jean shared. “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.”
When asked to elaborate on how Jackson used the episode as a “tool”, Jean explained:
“I think it was part of what he used to groom boys. I really don’t know, and I should be very careful because this is not something I know personally, but as far as what I think, that’s what I think. And that makes me very, very sad.”
In ‘Stark Raving Dad’, Jackson provided the voice for Leon Kompoqsky, a psychiatric patient who believes he is Michael Jackson. Leon is welcomed into the Simpson home, where he helps Bart write a birthday song for Lisa, ‘Happy Birthday Lisa’. As COS notes, If you consider the songs lyrical content in light of Leaving Neverland, it feels troubling.
I wish you love and goodwill /
I wish you praise and joy /
I wish you better than your heart desires /
And your first kiss from a boy
‘Stark Raving Dad’ was Jean’s first episode as showrunner, a significant milestone in his career. Despite this, Jean assured The Daily Beast that he believes “removing it is appropriate.
“I lose a little bit of money financially,” he shared “it’s not something that’s great personally to lose one of the most successful things I ever did, but I totally think it’s the right move.”
‘Stark Raving Dad’ aired in 1991, before the initial allegations against Jackson were brought to light.
Watch: Michael Jackson – Happy Birthday Lisa
