‘The Simpsons’ did not Predict the Beirut Explosion

Misbar’s investigation into this claim reveals it to be false. The video in question depicts Homer Simpson purchasing fireworks, an explosion, and in some cases a building with squares and rectangles used in its design. First of all, it should be noted that the three parts of the clip come from two different episodes and the intro of the show, which plays before every episode. As such, they are not intrinsically related to each other, nor are they seemingly a prediction. Second, fireworks and explosions are present in many TV shows and movies, and are not considered predictions in every case. Third, the explosion in Beirut was caused by stockpiled ammonium nitrate (military grade high explosives) not fireworks. There is a kind of a cult following of The Simpsons that claims it has had the ability to predict many geopolitical and newsworthy events, but while the claims are entertaining, they have all been debunked.