The writers of The Simpsons have a reputation for predicting the future, and it seems that their physic capabilities led them to forecast the closing of Toys 'R' Us—14 years before the toy franchise announced it was going out of business.
Toys 'R' Us entered bankruptcy back in September, and on March 14 the company announced it would shutter or sell all 735 of its stores in the United States.
In January 2004, a Season 15 episode of The Simpsons saw a similar outcome for the toy store. But on the show, it wasn't an ending that saw the toy mecca going bankrupt. Instead, youth-hater Lindsay Naegle formed an anti-children group—Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays Against Parasitic Parents—and instructed the members of the organization to "kill every child…friendly thing in town."
Riveted by her orders, all the singles, seniors, childless couples, teens and gays in Springfield rallied up and destroyed all things related to children. Playpens were crushed, "Kids at Play" signs were set on fire and Moe the bartender was seen flipping forward Toys 'R' Us' famous backward "R" as Milford Van Houten and a mob of children with faces full of tears cry from a distance.
Perhaps not as destructive of the actual ending for Toys 'R' Us in real life, but the event will be just as sad when the company closes its doors after 70 years of business and lays off about 31,000 workers in the U.S. When the news broke that the store was officially shutting down, swarms of people took to social media to express their grief.
Toys R Us closing is actually depressing
— Jenn McAllister (@jennmcallister) March 16, 2018
The hardest part about #toysrus closing for me is that I’m not just losing a job, it feels like I’m losing part of my family. Like I’m losing 30 family members all at once. And that hurts the most.
— Holly Elizabeth (@Holiday_Horror) March 21, 2018
Only adding to the sorrow, Toys 'R' Us founder Charles Lazarus died on Thursday, just a week after the company announced it would be closing for good. He was 94 years old.
Toys 'R' Us didn't say exactly when it would be closing down for good, but the company is expected to begin liquidation sales at its stores on Friday.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Michigan native, Janice Williams is a graduate of Oakland University where she studied journalism and communication. Upon relocating to New ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
