The animated American sitcom The Simpsons has gone on for 32 seasons since it started in 1989. The iconic satirical series parodies the human condition and in particular American society and culture. Over the years, the series has come to be seen as prescient; supposedly foretelling certain incidents. Apparently, the show predicted the election of Donald Trump, a Lady Gaga concert, a Nobel Prize winner, sporting events, the invention of certain gadgets and more. The Simpsons also supposedly predicted the recent football-related violence in the UK and Richard Branson’s space travel.
Most of us have heard of or seen videos of the hooliganism and violence that followed England’s loss to Italy in the final of the Euro Cup.
These were among the xenophobic and racist things fans did (such as defacing the mural of one of their own players). Some tried to burn the Italian flag and then spat and stamped on it.
In one episode Homer Simpson accidentally sets fire to the British flag that he had hoisted to welcome some guests. He then proceeds to stomp on the flag.
In reply, someone tweeted this short clip of the character Hugh holding the despoiled flag of his country.
The loss in the finals of the Euro Cup 2020 at home in Wembley would have been a bitter pill for England football hooligans fans to swallow. Perhaps the Simpsons predicted this as well?
This satirical image alludes to the prevalence of current anti-immigrant sentiment and xenophobia among so many English people; which also led to the disastrous Brexit vote.
The supposed Simpsons ‘prediction’ is clearly only a matter of interpretation. However there is no doubt that right-thinking English people are ashamed of the way their compatriots have behaved as memes like these indicate.
Just days ago, UK business magnate Richard Branson travelled to space (or the edge of space as many remind us). It seems as though the sitcom predicted this as well?
Many are irked by Branson’s lifestyle of conspicuous consumption and now the space venture which is seen as a waste of money when so many are strapped for cash. So they got in a few Simpsons-themed digs here as well.
Over time, significant mythology has become built around the Simpsons ‘predictions’. It is similar to the way that Nostradamus is supposed to have ‘prophesied’ historical events. There are simple explanations for every such ‘predicted’ event – people like to find patterns even where none exist. After all, it is more comforting to think that things happen for a reason than to acknowledge the fact that we live in the chaotic, random world that we do.
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