(Fox Flash)
A controversial Simpsons character has finally returned to the show after a long absence.
That’s right, Leon Kompowsky, the bricklayer from Paterson, New Jersey who thought he was Michael Jackson, made a surprising appearance in Sunday’s episode, “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening.” The character was last seen nearly 9 years ago in the 2017 episode “Mr. Lisa’s Opus.”
Leon first appeared in the 1991 episode “Stark Raving Dad,” where he was voiced by the King of Pop under the pseudonym John Jay Smith, with his singing voice performed by Kipp Lennon. Producers pulled the fan-favorite episode from streaming and syndication in March 2019 in reaction to the documentary Finding Neverland, which detailed allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson. In a statement, executive producer James L. Brooks said “I’m against book-burning of any kind. But this is our book, and we’re allowed to take out a chapter.” Former showrunner Al Jean reiterated his stance earlier this year, tweeting “I hope it remains banned.” It remains the only episode globally unavailable on Disney+.
The controversial decision had not been referenced within the show itself – save for Harry Shearer’s spooky credit in 2022’s “Treehouse of Horror XXXIII” – until now. In Sunday’s episode, Dr. Nick welcomes Apu to “The Island of Forgotten Garbage,” where all the junk the show gets rid of winds up, and says hi to Leon, who shushes him and moonwalks back into some bushes.
Jackson, who died in 2009, is having a banner year. The biopic Michael is currently the fourth-highest-grossing film of the year. His songs continue to dominate the charts. Even Disney recently announced a new documentary about his performance during the Super Bowl XXVII Halftime show. Will his Simpsons episode ever return? It seems that with enough time, any controversy can be overlooked.