Fans of The Simpsons were shocked to learn that a popular Homer meme is already 30 years old.
The animated sitcom premiered in 1989 and has since aired 762 episodes.
Although the series has received a lot of attention over the years for its spooky predictions, some of its most memorable sequences have recently been turned into incredibly popular memes.
One of the most iconic images that has gained traction on social media shows Homer retreating into a shrub, appearing humiliated.
In the 1994 episode Home Loves Flanders, Homer wanted to surprise his neighbour and try to hang out with him.
Ned Flanders and his boys were playing basketball in their driveway when Homer inquired what they were doing for the day, to which Ned clumsily replied that they had ‘family only plans’.
After realising he wasn’t welcome, Homer mumbled ‘ohhh ok’ and retreated back into the hedge that separated their homes.
The situation has become popular as a meme in recent years, but people were startled to hear how old it is.
‘It’s unbelievable that one of the most iconic memes from The Simpsons is actually 30 years old. This show was certainly ahead of its time,’ user Srivats posted on X.
‘I refuse to believe this was three decades ago,’ John shared.
‘Excuse me? How many years ago??? Wow I feel absolutely old and decrepit,’ Tom explained.
Meanwhile Chris added: ‘Very proud to have lived through this defining moment in pop culture history.’
As one user also said: ‘30 years ago the Simpsons predicted adult millennials.’
The sixteenth episode of the fifth season, Homer Loves Flanders, opened with Ned asking Homer to a football game, and the two quickly became close friends.
However, in a reversal of their typical roles, Ned quickly became tired of Homer’s overbearing friendliness and dumb pranks and began to despise him.
The meme initially surfaced online in 2010, but gained traction two years later when users were able to add their own backdrops to the bush.
However, in an interview with Vulture, former The Simpsons showrunner David Mirkin said he was surprised at the new meaning of the meme as the scene was originally intended to be quite creepy.
‘What’s really interesting is the meme really has nothing to do with the way it was used in the show, because it’s not a retreat or an embarrassment, as it’s used — it was really just an ominous, threatening look and a very weird backing up while never breaking eye contact with Flanders,’ he said.
‘So, it’s great the way it’s been changed, but it’s not the original intention.’
He noted that while people had reinterpreted Homer’s expression as one of shame it was actually ‘a creepy stalker energy instead of an embarrassed, retreating energy’.
The Simpsons is available to stream on Disney Plus in the UK.
Source My Celebrity Life.