The Simpsons Removes Michael Jackson Episode Following Leaving Neverland Airing

The Simpsons has removed their episode featuring Michael Jackson after Leaving Neverland brought allegations against the singer back to light. The Wall Street Journal reports that the season three episode “Stark Raving Mad” has been pulled from rotation by the show after the HBO documentary detailed extensive allegations of sexual abuse by the late singer.

“It feels clearly the only choice to make,” executive producer James L. Brooks said, noting that his fellow EPs Matt Groening and Al Jean agreed with the decision. “The guys I work with — where we spend our lives arguing over jokes — were of one mind on this.”

The episode saw Jackson voice Leon Kompowsky, a patient in a mental institution that Homer meets and who claims to be Jackson. It was only recently acknowledged by Groening that Jackson voiced the role despite years of rumors.

Brooks said of the episode, “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…I’m against book burning of any kind. But this is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter.”

Leaving Neverland details allegations by Wade Robson and James Safechuck that Jackson sexually abused them as children.