The Simpsons Did Not Predict Monkeypox
The Claim
“The Simpsons” predicted Monkeypox and therefore, its writers must be investigated.
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Emerging story
Social media users across the MENA region are circulating two images depicting Homer Simpson from the show “The Simpsons.” The claim is that Homer has Monkeypox and that the writers of the show predicted the spread of the virus and should be investigated.
Photo Description: A screenshot of the circulating claim.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating claim and found it to be misleading. The two images in the claim are from two separate episodes which were broadcasted on different dates. The image of Homer with the bumps originally showed a Chickenpox infection and not Monkeypox.
The First Image
Misbar investigated the claim and discovered that the first photo shows Homer sick with Chickenpox as a result of an infection transmitted to him by his daughter Maggie. The episode, titled "Milhouse of Sand and Fog," aired in 2005, as shown in the screenshot below.
Photo Description: Screenshots of the episode aired in 2005.
The Second Photo
Furthermore, it was revealed that the two photos are unrelated and from two different episodes. The second photo shows Homer with a monkey named Mojo sitting beside him. Mojo had been adopted by Homer to assist him with household chores while his wife was busy presenting a children's program. As seen below, the episode was titled "Girly Edition" and aired in 1998.
Photo Description: Screenshots of the episode aired in 1998.
Monkeypox
The circulating claims come amid reports that the number of Monkeypox cases has surpassed 250, with the majority of them occurring in Europe and North America. This is not the first time that claims about predictions made by "The Simpsons" have circulated. Based on the findings, Misbar's team confirms that the claim is misleading and that the show did not predict Monkeypox.
Translated by Dina Faisal
