This “Simpsons” forecast was far from amusing.
“The Simpsons,” which is often credited with forecasting Super Bowl outcomes and other light-hearted events, has lately been praised on social media for foreseeing something less amusing: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As a result of the sad tragedy, perceptive Twitter users compared the fight to a 1998 episode of the prophetic series “Simpson Tide.” In it, Homer inadvertently launches a submarine commander into Russian seas during a military practice, forcing a resurrected Soviet Union to send troops and tanks to the streets and immediately resurrect the Berlin Wall.
The disturbing comparisons were confirmed by “Simpsons” creator Al Jean, who tweeted, “Very sorry to report this was not difficult to anticipate.”
“I hate to say it, but I was born in 1961, so I spent 30 years of my life living with the spectre of the Soviet Union,” Jean said to the Hollywood Reporter. “So, to me, this is more of a forecast than a prediction.” We basically assumed things would go wrong.”
“Historical violence never really goes away,” the Michigan-born animator remarked, “and you have to be really alert.” When this clip aired in 1998, it was maybe the pinnacle of US-Russia relations.”
“However, practically everyone has made it plain that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is a nasty man, and bad things are likely to happen,” he continued.
According to government sources, Russian soldiers gained control of the Chernobyl nuclear power station on Thursday following a brief but furious battle with Ukrainian troops.
