If you’re even a passing fan of The Simpsons, you’ll know that everyone’s favourite man-servant-stroke-roller-blading-badass Waylon Smithers has always had a bit of a soft spot for his senior boss Monty Burns. Smithers has always been a tad camp, whether it’s trying to woo Mr Burns with romantic picnics, or going to gay bars with his pals.
Well, now, it’s finally official: Smithers has come out.
The revelation happened in an episode called ‘The Burns Cage’, which airs in the UK this Sunday 10 April. Smithers asked Homer to help him find a date and used popular hookup app Grindr to search for a boyfriend.
Typically, The Simpsons only tends to make major canonical changes to their characters on very rare occasions. Previous examples have been the death of Maud Flanders, Apu’s marriage to Manjula and the birth of their eight children; and the shooting of Mr Burns, which is repeatedly referred to throughout subsequent seasons.
Now, Smithers’ sexuality has finally become canon after many years of speculation and not-so-subtle hints.
Writer of The Burns Cage Rob LaZebnik has told the New York Post that the episode was inspired by his son, saying: “I thought, ‘What better way to tell my son I love him than to write a cartoon about it?’
“Sometimes TV can have a real impact on people’s thinking, and I certainly hope it will have an impact on my son’s dating life — not that he needs help.”
Despite always insinuating his sexuality, Simpsons writers never took the step to out Smithers until now. This might be in part due to the Supreme Court’s ruling to legalise gay marriage across the States last year.
Either way, the response from fans has been wholly positive, although some seem to be confused that Smithers was ever in the closet. A huge congratulations is in order for Smithers and the Simpsons team for taking the plunge with this unconventional storyline.
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Originally published April 5, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
