The Simpsons didn't actually predict Toys R Us closure

From Digital Spy

Sorry, guys, The Simpsons didn't actually predict the closure of Toys R Us 14 years ago.

Speculation that the Fox series had added the closure of the toy retailer to its ever-growing list of spookily accurate foreshadowings began on Twitter this week, when social media users pointed out a particular scene from 2004 episode 'Marge vs Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays'.

The episode includes a scene where Moe Szyslak turns the backwards 'R' on the Springfield store's sign the right way around, causing Milhouse and other Springfield kids to cry.

However, the episode didn't actually feature the store shutting down – the flipping of the 'R' was just the adults' attempt to destroy anything child-friendly in the fictional town.

So, sorry folks, we're debunking this one as social media mythology, otherwise known as #fakenews.

Related: The Simpsons predicted Team USA men's curling win at the Winter Olympics

It is true that there's no smoke without fire though...

After correctly predicting Donald Trump's presidential victory, Lady Gaga's Super Bowl performance, Disney buying Fox TV and Film studios and the USA men's curling team winning gold for the first time at the Winter Olympics (plus the creation of the word "Embiggen") – we don't blame people for thinking those writers had struck gold again.

Alas, they didn't.

The Simpsons airs on FOX in the US and Sky One/Channel 4 in the UK.

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