The Simpsons end corporal punishment

Sir Frank Peters

Sir Frank Peters

The Simpsons, the most watched American television family in the world, has outlawed corporal punishment.

After 34 years on the air and more than 750 episodes, the producers of the iconic subliminally influencing TV series has decided enough is enough and has ended Homer’s corporal punishment to Bart.

The days of Homer strangling Bart, one of its long-running recurring gags, are over because times have changed, mouthed the producers.

In the third episode of season 35, Homer meets his new next-door neighbour for the first time. When they shake hands, Homer is complimented on the firmness of his handshake.

“See, Marge, strangling the boy paid off,” Homer exclaims. The audience looks at him in disgust and Homer clarifies: “Just kidding, I don’t do that anymore. Times have changed.”

Some viewers point out that this is not new, but dates back to episode 17 of season 22, “Love is a Many Strangled Things. In that episode, a basketball player, strangles Homer so that Homer can understand what it feels like to be “young, small and scared.” Homer was traumatized by the experiences, which lead him to stop doing the same to Bart.

The gag, however, resurfaced shortly thereafter, but the voices condemning Homer’s physical punishment of Bart grew extraordinarily in number and resounded loudly on social networks, demanding an end to corporal punishment in the series.

The last time Homer strangled Bart was in Season 31 with assurances given by the series creator Matt Groening and Fox TV that it would not happen again. Repeating the words of Homer, Groening said, “times have changed”.

Extensive research worldwide has been proven beyond a shadow of doubt that Corporal punishment to children in schools, madrassas, and elsewhere is of no benefit; totally ineffective, and mentally damaging to a child that may last and impact their lives even when they’re adult.  

(Sir Frank Peters is a former newspaper and magazine publisher and editor, a royal goodwill ambassador, humanitarian, and human rights activist.)