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The Chokehold That Won't End: 5 Shocking Facts About Homer Strangling Bart And The Simpsons' Controversial Gag

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As of December 23, 2025, one of the longest-running and most controversial gags in television history—Homer Simpson strangling his son Bart—is simultaneously over and not over. This paradox stems from a highly publicized moment in a recent episode that suggested the gag was officially retired, only for the show's creators to immediately walk back the statement, confirming the dark humor remains a canonical possibility. The recurring scene, where Homer grabs Bart by the throat and delivers his iconic line, "Why you little…!", has been a staple of *The Simpsons* since its 1989 debut. However, changing cultural sensitivities and a quiet, years-long hiatus from the gag led to a major on-screen acknowledgment in Season 35 that sparked a global conversation about the limits of comedy and the evolution of a 30-plus-year-old animated series.

Full Character Profile & Key Entities in the Strangulation Saga

The controversy surrounding the strangulation gag involves more than just the two central characters. It touches on key production staff and pivotal episodes that have attempted to address or explain the dark humor.

Homer Jay Simpson (The Perpetrator)

  • Role: Patriarch of the Simpson family, Nuclear Safety Inspector at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.
  • Voiced By: Dan Castellaneta.
  • Key Traits: Lazy, impulsive, gluttonous, and prone to violent outbursts (especially toward Bart).
  • Catchphrase: "D'oh!" and the famous prelude to the strangling: "Why you little...!"

Bartholomew "Bart" Jojo Simpson (The Victim)

  • Role: Eldest child and only son of Homer and Marge.
  • Voiced By: Nancy Cartwright.
  • Key Traits: Mischievous, rebellious, underachieving student, and a frequent instigator of Homer's rage.
  • Catchphrase: "Eat my shorts," "Ay Caramba!"

Key Entities & Personnel

  • Matt Selman: Current *The Simpsons* showrunner who clarified that the "end" of the gag was just a throwaway joke.
  • James L. Brooks: Co-creator and producer who also affirmed that the strangulation gag is not officially retired.
  • "McMansion & Wife" (Season 35, 2023): The episode where Homer explicitly states, "I don't do that anymore. Times have changed," sparking the viral news of the gag's "end."
  • "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing" (Season 22, 2011): A previous episode where Homer attends therapy to stop strangling Bart, marking an earlier, more serious attempt to address the issue.
  • "Behind the Laughter" (Season 11, 2000): A mockumentary episode that casually referred to the strangulation as child abuse, showing the writers' self-awareness early on.

The Five Stages of the Strangulation Gag's Evolution

The Homer-Bart strangulation gag has evolved from a simple, visceral sight gag to a complex meta-commentary on the show's own longevity and relationship with its audience. Its history can be broken down into distinct phases.

1. The Golden Age Debut (1989 - Early 2000s)

The strangulation was a cornerstone of early *The Simpsons* humor. It was a quick, shocking moment designed to highlight Homer's impulsiveness and Bart's status as a perpetual agent of chaos. The dynamic was a dark parody of the traditional sitcom father-son relationship, instantly establishing the show's rebellious, non-PC tone. It was a visual shorthand for Homer's frustration.

2. The Meta-Commentary Phase (Season 11 Onward)

As the show matured, so did its self-awareness. In the Season 11 mockumentary "Behind the Laughter," the strangulation was openly referred to as child abuse, with Homer choking Bart in front of a film crew. This showed the writers were aware of the moral implications but chose to keep the gag as a piece of dark, surreal comedy.

3. The Therapy Episode (Season 22, 2011)

The episode "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing" was the most direct attempt to address the gag's toxicity. Homer attends therapy and learns to stop strangling Bart, making a vow never to do it again. While the resolution didn't stick permanently, it demonstrated the show's willingness to engage with the controversy in a dedicated storyline, acknowledging the public's concern.

4. The Quiet Hiatus (2019 - 2023)

Even before the Season 35 announcement, the gag had become increasingly rare. Homer reportedly last strangled Bart on-screen around Season 31 (2019-2020). This quiet de-escalation was a subtle sign that "times had changed," as the joke's cultural shelf life was expiring. The show simply stopped using it, letting the joke fade into memory rather than officially retiring it.

5. The Controversial 'Retirement' and The Showrunner's Rebuttal (2023 - Present)

The biggest news came in October 2023 during the episode "McMansion & Wife." Homer, meeting a new neighbor who offers a handshake, jokes about strangling him before stating, "Just kidding. I don't do that anymore. Times have changed." This line went viral, with many outlets reporting the gag was officially retired.

However, showrunner Matt Selman and co-creator James L. Brooks quickly clarified that the line was a "throwaway joke" or a "gag" itself, not a binding, official retirement of the recurring bit. They confirmed that Homer "will continue to strangle Bart," ensuring the gag remains a potential, if infrequent, tool in the show's comedic arsenal.

Why The Homer-Bart Strangulation Gag Will Never Truly Die

Despite the moral outrage and the show's own acknowledgment that the joke is outdated, the gag holds an almost sacred, if dark, place in *The Simpsons* canon. Its continued existence is a testament to several factors that define the show's unique brand of comedy.

The Power of Dark, Transgressive Humor

From its earliest days, *The Simpsons* was built on pushing boundaries. The strangulation gag is the ultimate expression of this transgressive humor—a shocking, cartoonish act of violence that is immediately nullified by the show's reality, where characters never age or suffer lasting consequences. For the showrunners, fully retiring the gag would be akin to censoring a fundamental part of the show's identity.

A Canonical Running Gag

The "Why you little...!" moment is one of the most recognizable recurring gags in television history, alongside the couch gag and Bart’s blackboard punishment. It has been parodied, referenced, and meme-ified countless times. Removing it entirely would be an admission that the show's past humor is no longer acceptable, a move the creators seem reluctant to make. The show’s co-creator insists nothing is changing, keeping the gag alive in principle.

The Homer and Bart Dynamic

At its core, the strangulation gag defines the chaotic, yet ultimately loving, relationship between Homer and Bart. Homer's frustration is a caricature of parental stress, and Bart's mischief is a caricature of childhood rebellion. While the violence is extreme, it functions within the show’s universe as a cartoonish reaction, not a realistic depiction of abuse. The show’s longevity depends on this central, volatile dynamic remaining intact.

In conclusion, while the famous strangulation scene is now exceedingly rare, its status as a canonical running gag remains secure. The Season 35 line was a clever, self-aware joke about the show's changing place in the cultural landscape, rather than a definitive promise. Fans should not expect to see Homer's hands around Bart's neck in every episode, but the possibility, however remote, ensures that the most controversial joke in Springfield's history will continue to spark debate for years to come.

homer choking bart
homer choking bart

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