The new Disney+ streaming service includes almost the full library of episodes of “The Simpsons,” but The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports that one episode is missing.
“‘Stark Raving Dad,’ the 1991 installment that kicked off the Fox cartoon’s third season, is absent from the newly launched streaming platform,” THR reports. “The season now begins with ‘Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington,’ which is properly labeled as No. 2 under chapters.”
The publication notes that its requests for comment from Disney went unanswered.
“It is assumed ‘Stark Raving Dad’ is off Disney+ because Michael Jackson (not officially credited) was the guest star. Jackson voiced Leon Kompowsky, a man Homer meets while in a mental institution who sounds like Jackson. The episode was a favorite among fans for several years,” THR reports, adding: “In March of this year, ‘Stark Raving Dad’ was pulled from broadcast circulation following the release of the HBO documentary film ‘Leaving Neverland,’ in which the late pop star was accused by multiple men of molestation when they were boys.”
We reported back in March on the episode’s removal at that time from syndication, DVD and streaming distribution. You can see our original report by clicking here.
We also reported in March on comments by longtime “Simpsons” showrunner Al Jean, who wrote the episode.
“What saddens me is, if you watch that documentary — 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 said in an interview with The Daily Beast. “It wasn’t just a comedy to him, it was something that was used as a tool.”
Jean went on to say of Jackson’s role in the episode: “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.”
I’m glad I purchased the episode on DVD before the episode was pulled from circulation. Banning the episode will only bring attention to the episode, which would otherwise go unnoticed. Michael Jackson also appeared in many other series during his lifetime, which are still appearing in syndication. Jackson died 10 years ago. Airing,or not airing the episode, won’t change Jackson’s future behavior in real life. In that episode, Jackson’s character was also in a mental institution. So much for relying on streaming services, for the complete Simpsons collection.(The DVDs previously released of that episode will be worth a mint). Why doesn’t Disney donate the revenue from that episode to a charity that helps victims on molestation.