Homer Simpson will no longer strangle his son Bart in the animated comedy The Simpsons as the show has decided to shelve one of its longest-running gags.
Since its premiere back in 1989, The Simpsons has cemented itself as one of the best-loved series in history - in no small part down the relationships between its titular family.
Troublesome Bart for the best part of three decades has often managed to get on the wrong side of dad Homer, resulting in being punished by being grasped at the neck.
More often than not being preceded by Homer saying, "Why you little...", the gag was an iconic feature throughout the show's 750+ episodes.
But in a new episode, it appears bosses have decided to stop the joke at the risk of offending viewers at home.
The show acknowledged "times have changed" in one of its latest episodes, a clip of which has since gone viral on X, formerly Twitter.
Homer strangling Bart was a regular feature of the cartoon
FOX
In the clip from season 35's third episode, Homer shakes the hand of a new neighbour named Thayer who compliments the firmness of Homer's grip.
Homer then turns to wife Marge and quips: "See, Marge, strangling the boy paid off.
He then adds: "Just kidding, I don’t do that anymore. Times have changed."
The episode in question aired on October 22 in the United States and in the two weeks since, it's dominated online conversation among the fandom.
A number have applauded the show for deciding to ditch the long-running gag, with some arguing it's outdated.
However, several have slammed the fact The Simpsons writers felt they needed to retire the joke in today's modern era of wokeism and cancel culture.
"Took them long enough lmao," the X user who posted the clip online said, soon followed by a second tweet which read: "Y’all call it 'woke', I call it good character development for Homer. Times have changed. Get over it."
A second agreed: "I'm gonna say this right now. I never found Homer strangling Bart funny in the least. It's a tired out gag and I'm so grateful that they finallly dropped it."
Elsewhere, a third further lauded the decision: "Yeah. Homer is the gentlest and sweetest he's ever been. There's something lost with it, sure--the show certainly has less edge nowadays--but it's also been thirty-five years.
"As the show proceeds through its quiet silver age, a gentler tone is fine."
However, there was also plenty of outrage, with another X user arguing: "Damn you Disney for sanitizing one of the most popular sitcoms of all time!!!"
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Homer Simpson admits he stopped strangling Bart in a new episode
FOX
While a second raged: "This is B******T you will HATE family guy. Or American dad if you don't like this one small thing. F*** off you critics.
"It's meant for a joke not an insensitive wimp to say 'oh no that's wrong and sends a bad message'...it's a gag."
"THE WOKE MOB HAS COME FOR THE SIMPSONS," another added to the online discussion.
While a fourth similarly fumed: "Aaaaaand THERE it is ! The Simpsons has officially gone WOKE." (sic)
Homer was last depicted strangling Bart in season 31 which aired from 2019 to 2020.
