“The Simpsons” government producer Matt Selman lastly addressed the controversy surrounding the choice to “kill off” Marge Simpson throughout a flash-forward scene within the Season 36 finale.

Whereas the transfer shocked many followers, Selman dismissed the backlash, calling it “ridiculous” and explaining that the “Simpsons” episodic format permits for speculative fantasy situations, the place something can occur.

The episode in query, titled “Estranger Issues,” aired on Might 18 and takes a daring step ahead within the Simpson household’s timeline.

The storyline jumps 35 years into the longer term, revealing that Marge has died, and Bart and Lisa are estranged after they cease watching “The Itchy & Scratchy Present” collectively.

Homer, now in a retirement residence, struggles to take care of his household bonds. A quick scene reveals Homer grieving at Marge’s funeral, with the remainder of the household surrounding him.

Nonetheless, Marge’s “dying” is not everlasting.

On the finish of the episode, she watches over her household from Heaven, content material to see Bart and Lisa reconnect and save Homer from his solitary life. In a twist, Marge reveals that she married Beatles icon Ringo Starr whereas in Heaven, including a humorous and lighthearted contact to the in any other case emotional scene.

The controversial determination to jot down Marge out of the collection briefly sparked outrage amongst “The Simpsons”’ loyal fanbase, with many expressing their shock on social media.

“I haven’t even watched ‘The Simpsons’ in 10+ years, however they actually killed MARGE?!” one viewer posted on X, voicing the collective disbelief.

Regardless of the backlash, Selman welcomed the response, viewing it as an indication of the present’s enduring relevance.

“I suppose this speaks to the truth that individuals care about Marge,” he advised Selection. “On the finish of the day, it’s in all probability good for enterprise even when these ridiculous, deceptive tales go viral!”

Selman additional defined that in “The Simpsons” world, future episodes are speculative fantasies, and this was only one attainable consequence for the beloved characters.

“Marge will in all probability by no means be useless ever once more. The one place Marge is useless is in a single future episode that aired six weeks in the past,” he added. “’The Simpsons’ doesn’t even have canon!”

The present’s creators have all the time been identified for pushing boundaries, and this surprising transfer is simply one other instance of how “The Simpsons” continues to evolve after greater than three many years on the air.

In 2022, “The Simpsons” made historical past by that includes a Deaf voice actor and incorporating American Signal Language (ASL) into the present for the primary time. This milestone occurred in Episode 17 of the present’s thirty third season, titled “The Sounds of Bleeding Gums.”

The episode facilities round Lisa Simpson, the household’s oldest daughter, as she meets Monk Murphy, the son of her late music idol “Bleeding Gums” Murphy. Lisa learns that Monk was born deaf and initially thought of getting a cochlear implant. Wanting to assist, Lisa quickly realizes that Monk does not have to be “fastened” and is completely content material along with his life as it’s.