At long last, a decades-old Simpsons mystery has been solved. Officially moving from rumour to fact, creator Matt Groening has finally confirmed that Michael Jackson did really appear on The Simpsons.
The episode in question was titled "Stark Raving Dad" and originally aired in 1991. It featured a character named Leon Kompowsky, a mental patient who pretends to be Michael Jackson.
However, over the years it's been unclear whether the King of Pop actually voiced the character or if it was the work on an impersonator. Well, you can now consider the mystery solved thanks to Groening himself.
"We really did have Michael Jackson," Groening revealed on Australia's The Weekly.
Groening went on to explain that he initially hung up on a cold-call from Jackson, recalling, "He has a voice that sounds like someone doing a Michael Jackson bit."
Groening added, "He said that he loved Bart [Simpson] and wanted to be on the show."
Further clarifying the whole situation, Groening explained that Michael Jackson's name never appeared in the credits to the episode due to a dispute with his record label.
"He did do the show. He didn't want credit for it, it was some kind of deal with his record company or whatever," Groening said. "When it came time to do the songs, he had a sound-a-like singer and he stood there and watched the guy — and he was so nervous — who had to to sound like Michael Jackson."
As a result of the dispute, Jackson was eventually credited under the pseudonym John Jay Smith.
Down below, you can watch Groening explain the whole thing for yourself.
The episode in question was titled "Stark Raving Dad" and originally aired in 1991. It featured a character named Leon Kompowsky, a mental patient who pretends to be Michael Jackson.
However, over the years it's been unclear whether the King of Pop actually voiced the character or if it was the work on an impersonator. Well, you can now consider the mystery solved thanks to Groening himself.
"We really did have Michael Jackson," Groening revealed on Australia's The Weekly.
Groening went on to explain that he initially hung up on a cold-call from Jackson, recalling, "He has a voice that sounds like someone doing a Michael Jackson bit."
Groening added, "He said that he loved Bart [Simpson] and wanted to be on the show."
Further clarifying the whole situation, Groening explained that Michael Jackson's name never appeared in the credits to the episode due to a dispute with his record label.
"He did do the show. He didn't want credit for it, it was some kind of deal with his record company or whatever," Groening said. "When it came time to do the songs, he had a sound-a-like singer and he stood there and watched the guy — and he was so nervous — who had to to sound like Michael Jackson."
As a result of the dispute, Jackson was eventually credited under the pseudonym John Jay Smith.
Down below, you can watch Groening explain the whole thing for yourself.
The rumours circled every school playground in the 90s - was M.J. on #TheSimpsons? @Briggs ask the man himself, Matt Groening. #TheWeekly pic.twitter.com/8SSxqhKY7i
— The Weekly (@theweeklytv) August 29, 2018