The Simpsons, a beloved animated TV series, has gained a reputation for its uncanny ability to predict future events. Over the years, the show has seemingly foreshadowed various real-life occurrences, leaving fans amazed and intrigued. In 2023, The Simpsons once again showcased its prophetic nature, making several chilling predictions that came true.
The Ill-Fated Voyage of the Titanic Sub
One of the most haunting predictions from The Simpsons involves the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic sub in June 2023. In a 2006 episode titled “Homer’s Paternity Coot,” Homer embarks on an underwater adventure to uncover the sunken treasure ship, the Piso Mojado, accompanied by his long-lost father, Mason Fairbanks. Tragically, the cartoon mirrors the real-life events of Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman, who embarked on a mission to explore the Titanic wreckage but lost their lives when the Titan sub imploded during its descent. Although The Simpsons writer-producer, Mike Reiss, clarified that the episode was inspired by the 1996 film “Crimson Tide,” the similarity to the actual events is uncanny.
“We didn’t predict the future, we just did it off that movie and 20 years later, something like that happened.” – Mike Reiss, The Simpsons writer-producer.
The Barbie Mania Sweeping the World
In another intriguing prediction, The Simpsons seemingly anticipated the resurgence of Barbie’s popularity in 2023. In a 1994 episode titled “Lisa vs Malibu Stacey,” Lisa launches a campaign to encourage the creators of the Malibu Stacey doll to create a more empowering role model for young girls. The episode highlights the issues surrounding the original doll’s phrases such as “Math is hard” and “Don’t ask me, I’m just a girl.” Lisa manages to convince the doll’s designer, Stacy Lovell, to produce a more feminist and empowering toy called Lisa Lionheart. Interestingly, this mirrors the release of the Barbie film starring Margot Robbie, which helped bring the iconic doll back into the spotlight.
The Arrest of a President
The Simpsons has also been credited with predicting Donald Trump’s presidency and his subsequent arrest. In the same episode that foreshadows the Barbie film’s success, Kent Brockman, the resident newsreader, casually mentions, “Oh, and the president was arrested.” While the episode does not explicitly state that Donald Trump was the president in question, viewers drew connections between this statement and Trump’s arrest and charge in August 2023 amid an election interference case. Although this prediction may not be exact, the resemblance is quite remarkable.
Elon Musk’s Twitter Rebranding
Elon Musk, known for his eccentricity and bold decisions, made headlines in 2023 when he decided to completely rebrand Twitter after acquiring the platform in October of the previous year. This move surprised many social media users, but The Simpsons seemed to have predicted it back in a 2012 episode titled “Ned ‘N Edna’s Blend.” In the episode, Homer is seen scrolling through his phone, and keen-eyed viewers noticed an app icon on his device that bears a striking resemblance to the logo design Musk adopted for X, his rebranded version of Twitter.
The Censorship of Michelangelo’s David
In yet another instance of life imitating art, The Simpsons appeared to predict the controversy surrounding Michelangelo’s David in Florida. In a 1990 episode titled “Itchy & Scratchy & Marge,” Marge campaigns against violence on television and ends up facing opposition from other parents who want to ban inappropriate content. As part of their protest, they set their sights on boycotting a traveling exhibition of Michelangelo’s sculpture of David, claiming it to be an “abomination.” This mirrors a real-life incident in Tallahassee, Florida, where parents complained about their children being exposed to “pornography” when shown a picture of the iconic sculpture by an art teacher.
The Three-Eyed Fish and Radioactive Contamination
Lastly, The Simpsons seemed to predict Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida eating a fish caught from radioactive waters. In a 1990 episode titled “Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish,” Mr. Burns, the rich and mean-spirited businessman, is running for governor of Springfield and attempts to convince the public that his nuclear power plant has not caused any harm. To showcase this, the Simpsons family serves Mr. Burns a three-eyed fish, which is believed to have mutated due to pollution. In a similar fashion, Japan’s Prime Minister ate a fish from radioactive waters to assure the public of its safety, drawing parallels to The Simpsons’ prediction.
These are just a few examples of the chilling predictions The Simpsons made in 2023. While some may dismiss these coincidences as mere chance, others find them incredibly intriguing. The show’s ability to seemingly foresee future events continues to captivate audiences and spark discussions about the blurred lines between fiction and reality. Whether it’s a case of pure coincidence or something more mysterious, The Simpsons’ predictions certainly make for fascinating conversation topics.
“The Simpsons didn’t predict the future; it just managed to tap into the collective unconscious and reflect the zeitgeist of the time.” – Anonymous
So, the next time you binge-watch The Simpsons, keep an eye out for any hints or foreshadowing of what’s to come. Who knows, maybe the show will once again surprise us.
