THE Simpsons is an animated series that has been entertaining audiences since 1989. The series is famous for its ability to predict various events that later occur in real life.
Recently, The Simpsons was once more linked to having “predicted” the shooting incident of former United States (US) President Donald Trump last weekend.
While it may be just a coincidence, some of the prophecies revealed in their episodes have shocked and sparked speculation around the world.
Here are some episodes of The Simpsons that are linked to real events in the future:
1. Donald Trump Becomes US President
One of the most striking predictions was regarding Donald Trump becoming President of the United States. In the episode “Bart to the Future” which aired in 2000, Lisa Simpson saw a future in which she became President of the United States following the unsuccessful administration of her predecessor, Donald Trump.
More than a decade later, this prediction came true when Donald Trump was elected US President in 2016.
Also read: The Simpsons Episode Similar to Donald Trump Shooting Canceled
2. Advanced Video Call Technology
The Simpsons also predicted technological advances that later became part of everyday life. For example, in the episode “Lisa’s Wedding” which aired in 1995, technologies such as video calls and touchscreen devices were accurately depicted, even though at the time the technology was still very new and rarely used.
3. Lady Gaga Performs at the Super Bowl
A 2012 episode of season 23’s “Lisa Goes Gaga” showed Lady Gaga flying into the stadium while suspended by a harness. The scene was later performed by the pop star in real life during her Super Bowl performance in 2017, wearing a very similar outfit.
The difference is, in the film Gaga held a concert in Springfield City, where Lisa Simpson and her family live. However, the similarity still made Gaga and The Simpsons fans amazed and made comparison pictures on social media.
4. Global Political Events
In addition to Trump, the series also touches on other global political events. An example is an episode where the main character travels to Australia and depicts Australia burning, which later became a reality in the devastating Australian bushfires some time following the episode aired.
5. Media Technology
In the episode “Itchy & Scratchy & Marge”, The Simpsons depicts the debate regarding violence in children’s cartoons, which at the time was seen as just a joke and parody. However, several years later, a similar debate was really taking place in society regarding the influence of media on children.
6. Global Pandemic
This prediction has fans of The Simpsons in a frenzy. The show may have predicted a global pandemic in the 1993 episode “Marge in Chains.”
Springfield experiences an outbreak of a virus from Asia called the “Osaka Flu”. The episode depicts panic, school closures, and concerns regarding the spread of the virus. These conditions are similar to the situation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
7. Smartwatch
While the first smartwatch wasn’t released until 2014, the idea was actually depicted in a 1995 episode of The Simpsons called “Lisa’s Wedding.” In the episode, the multifunctional watch is seen being worn by Lisa’s groom-to-be, Hugh (Mandy Patinkin).
8. Japanese PM Eats Fukushima Fish
After the release of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in August, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and three cabinet ministers ate local sashimi in an attempt to show that the fish was safe to eat.
For many fans, this episode is reminiscent of the 1990 episode “Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish.” In that episode, Bart finds a three-eyed fish near the local nuclear power plant. However, when Mr. Burns tries to give a speech on TV to tell the citizens of Springfield that the power plant is safe, Marge then serves the three-eyed fish.
9. Capitol Riots
The riot by President Donald Trump’s supporters on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021 was a moment that shocked the world, and shook the foundations of American democracy.
However, some Simpsons fans have argued that the show actually “predicted” the riots in the 1996 episode “The Day the Violence Died”, pointing to a scene in which the steps of Capitol Hill are stormed by a mob of angry cartoon characters.
10. Disney and Fox Merger
Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition of Fox shocked much of the world in 2019, but not some Simpsons fans.
The series actually “predicted” the Fox-Disney merger in a 1998 joke, which showed the 20th Century Fox studio being labeled as a “Division of Walt Disney Co.”
The Simpsons prophecy phenomenon has attracted public attention and sparked various conspiracy theories and speculation regarding the sources of the show’s creators’ information.
While many of these predictions may be mere coincidence or the result of a keen understanding of popular culture and global trends, there is no denying that the iconic series has created a fascinating and entertaining legacy. (Theindependent/P-5)
Also read: The Simpsons Apparently Predicted Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
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