The Simpsons has gained a reputation over the years for predicting the future.
Infamous examples include claims that the popular animated series foresaw the 9/11 terror attacks, the 2020 pandemic, and Donald Trump’s presidency.
However, the show has been linked with another scandalous story in recent days.
Fans have suggested that the long-running sitcom may have revealed the existence of Jeffrey Epstein’s now infamous island back in 2000.
The story in question is from the season 12 instalment The Computer Wore Menace Shoes, which was written by John Swartzwelder.
In the episode, Homer starts a news website using the pseudonym Mr X to spread gossip about the people of Springfield.
Desperate to maintain his popularity, Homer eventually resorts to making up obviously fake stories, which is where the fan claims come in.
One of the stories Homer publishes claims ‘Some crazy creeps on an island somewhere are secretly running the world’.
Some people online are now pointing to this scene as being eerily similar to some of the allegations made in The Epstein Files about global elites.
‘Your reminder The Simpsons predicted the future with 100% accuracy,’ wrote @bryanrbeal on X while sharing a still from the episode. ‘This episode aired in 2000.’
‘The Simpsons warned the world about the orgies on Epstein’s island,’ added @ps_trump.
Adding fuel to the fire of this conspiracy are allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre that Simpsons creator Matt Groening flew on Epstein’s private jet.
Giuffre claimed that while on board, Epstein made her give Groening a foot massage.
The accusations were originally made in 2015 when Giuffre submitted a 139-page exposé, titled The Billionaire Playboy’s Club, as part of a defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell.
There is no suggestion that Groening has any involvement in Epstein’s crimes or of any wrongdoing on his part.
The Simpsons’ long history of predicting the future has been thoroughly debunked by the show’s writers and producers.
Why I hate Simpsons prediction memes
Our Deputy TV Editor, Tom Percival, shares his unmitigated loathing of the Simpsons predictions phenomenon…
If you’re ever in my company and you decide you don’t want to talk to me anymore, there’s an easy way to disengage from the conversation.
Just mention Simpsons predictions, and I’ll very quickly make my goodbyes because I intensely dislike ‘The Simpsons predicted it’ memes.
Why? Well, while these memes may have started as a bit of spooky fun, they’ve mutated over time into something far more sinister. I’ve seen people online misrepresent the show, manipulate stills, and use AI to fabricate scenes, all in the hopes of getting likes and retweets.
I actually know the exact moment my antipathy for this phenomenon turned into open repugnance. It was when I saw an article titled ‘Did The Simpsons predict the death of George Floyd?’ online.
I couldn’t believe that someone would have the gall to take a tragedy like that and link it with my favourite TV show ever, all because they wanted some validation from strangers online.
Call me a fun sponge, but that alone made me loathe these memes with an almost feverish dislike.
Speaking to NME, former Simpsons showrunner Al Jean, who’s worked on The Simpsons since the second season, says it all comes down to good luck and coincidence.
‘One of our writers, the guy whose episode predicted Donald Trump as president, said it best: ‘If you write 700 episodes, and you don’t predict anything, then you’re pretty bad.”
‘If you throw enough darts, you’re going to get some bullseyes…mostly it’s just educated guesses.’
