'The Simpsons' episode with eerie similarities to Trump assassination attempt pulled off-air by Channel 4
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BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA: Channel 4 in the UK pulled an episode of 'The Simpsons' following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.
The episode, 'Lisa the Iconoclast,' originally aired in 1996, features a scene eerily similar to the real-life event where a law enforcement official aims at a rooftop.
Wondered at first why Channel 4 just pulled the scheduled broadcast of 'Lisa The Iconoclast', but I think I get pic.twitter.com/vMjvTawacn
— RopesToInfinity (@RopesToInfinity) July 14, 2024
'Lisa the Iconoclast' episode replaced after Trump shooting
On Saturday, July 13, as Trump spoke at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman fired at the former president, grazing his ear. The attacker, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service snipers.
The incident resulted in the tragic death of a volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore and left two others gravely injured.
The controversial episode of 'The Simpsons' was supposed to air on Sunday, July 14, as part of a Season 7 marathon. Instead, it was replaced by a less provocative episode from Season 30, 'Baby You Can’t Drive My Car.'
Channel 4 made this switch quietly, likely in response to the sensitive nature of the shooting incident.
Bizarre…
— Sebastien Morel (@SebastienM83030) July 16, 2024
Un épisode des « Simpsons » aurait été retiré de la diffusion sur Channel 4 au Royaume-Uni après la tentative d'assassinat de Trump.
L'épisode "Lisa The Iconoclast" a été diffusé à l'origine en 1996.
L'intrigue suit Lisa alors qu'elle découvre que le fondateur pic.twitter.com/Tw9frOOCH7
Eerie parallels to real-life events
The plot of 'Lisa the Iconoclast' involves Lisa discovering that Springfield’s founder was a murderous pirate who once attempted to kill George Washington. In a pivotal scene, a rooftop sniper aims at Lisa, mirroring the scenario at Trump’s rally. This uncanny similarity likely prompted Channel 4's decision to pull the episode.
Trump described the incident as surreal, stating, “The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle.” He added, “The agents hit me so hard that my shoes fell off, and my shoes are tight. ... It’s surreal for all of us. I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be dead.”
The Simpsons pulled an episode after Donald Trump’s assassination attempt.
— BoreCure (@CureBore) July 15, 2024
The episode, "Lisa the Iconoclast," which originally aired in 1996, features a plot where Lisa Simpson discovers the founder of Springfield was a murderous pirate who attempted to kill George Washington… pic.twitter.com/8MFQIj5g06
The FBI continues to investigate the motives behind Crooks' actions. According to voter records, Crooks was a registered Republican who had recently purchased 50 rounds of ammunition. His connection to a popular gun YouTube channel Demolition Ranch and his failed attempt to join his high school shooting club are also being scrutinized.
Netizens react to similarity of ‘Simpsons’ episode and Trump's assassination
Channel 4 viewers quickly noticed the schedule change and took to social media to share their thoughts.
A social media user tweeted, "They are running the world ngl."
A second added, "That's ridiculous, its a cartoon from 25 years ago."
A third tweeted, "I wonder if Thomas Matthew Crooks watched that episode?"
"These fascists think this crap is cool. It's not," read a tweet.
"No way they predicted this," penned an individual.
thats ridiculous, its a cartoon from 25 years ago.
— Occidentally On Purpose (@Neg_Bodhi_Img) July 15, 2024
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