In an announcement that has sent parts of the internet into meltdown, the new season of The Simpsons is set for a dramatic shake-up with news that Homer and Marge are to “legally separate” in an upcoming episode.
In an interview with Variety about the show’s 27th season, executive producer Al Jean has stated that in the premiere episode of the new season the famous couple are to separate, with Homer finding solace with another woman:
“In the premiere, it’s discovered after all the years Homer has narcolepsy and it’s an incredible strain on the marriage. Homer and Marge legally separate, and Homer falls in love with his pharmacist, who’s voiced by Lena Dunham.”
Since the announcement, many of the millions of fans of the long-running show have been on social media platforms to vent their frustrations about the news, particularly after the departure of one of the show’s stars, Harry Shearer, who left last month. That said, Jean hasn’t specified whether the separation is permanent, and the show divorced Homer and Marge once before in the Season 8 episode A Millhouse Divided, only for them to be remarried later.
UPDATE: Apparently, Homer and Marge are not going to split up. At least according to the official Simpsons Twitter feed:
RT and stop the rumors! #TheSimpsons pic.twitter.com/RsixP5R4JJ
— The Simpsons (@TheSimpsons) June 10, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIuEu1m0p2M&list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&feature=player_embedded
Originally published June 11, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
