Groening Defends Muslim Storyline
Matt Groening has defended a controversial storyline in the episode “Mypods and Boomsticks” which saw Homer Simpson accuse his Muslim neighbors of terrorism. In the episode, Homer convinces friends that a Middle Eastern family is plotting to blow up a shopping mall. But he is proved wrong when it turns out the family’s father, Amid, works in demolition. When the Simpsons have their Muslim neighbours over for dinner, Homer shows his ignorance of Islam, calling Allah “Oliver” and holy book The Koran “The Corona”.
A spokesperson for Britain’s The Islamic Cultural Centre & The London Central Mosque slammed the episode, telling UK newspaper the Daily Star, “I hope Muslims take no notice of the show.”
But Groening has come out in defence of the episode, saying, “Cartoons deal in stereotypes. We try to be sensitive.” It is not the first time the show has been mired in controversy, with Simpsons bosses recently criticised for a storyline which implied America’s Republican party was involved in a vote-rigging scandal at the 2008 presidential election.
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i think this is another exaggeration. i didn’t think it was racist, i’ve know lots of muslims who watched it and didn’t mind it. its just dumb old homer. i can see why some people don’t like it though.
I dont think it was affensive, and neither do my muzlim freinds
I think that it was a good episode, the simpsons make fun of everybody, and no one should get upset.
I swear I read somewhere else muslim groups praising the episode for tackling a sensitive issue in a well balanced and fair manner. There are always going to be people that overreact, I remember when IGN lambasted an episode for critisizing the army. Get over yourselves people!
I am a relegious muslim
I’ve enjoyed it
Assalamu ‘Alaikum
I’m glad you enjoyed it because I enjoyed it too and was very pleased that they never even in a humorous vague way hinted that maybe the Muslim Family might be up to no good because the Simpsons usually will do something like that just as sarcasticly humorous not to be taken seriously way but they even avoided that.
Hommer prevented Beer from getting to Spring Field and Beer is Haraam so
they could have had Bashir’s Dad tell Hommer that except for the fact that he endangered the Truck Drivers lives that it was a good thing that the Beer was not going to get delivered.
I really like how it annoyed the conservative viewers on HULU.COM that The Simpsons episode was Pro Islam.
Alhamdulillah
I thought the episode was sending the message that some people believe all or most muslims are terrorists and are wrong to believe this.
Homer is the main character of the show, but viewers are supposed to disagree with him. His “wrong” opinions are due to his stupidity; the message sent in every episode is that agreeing with Homer is stupid.
Sadly there are always people who just want to see harm everywhere… Believing all americans are prejudiced against muslims is not any better than believing all muslims are terrorists.
And if I may say this: wrongfully accusing a TV show of being racist is terrorism against freedom of speech! There you have it, hypocrites.