The obituary of Matt Groening’s mum explains a lot about the Simpsons
The Simpsons cartoon has been around for 32 years, becoming part of popular culture pretty quickly, with its irreverent attitude, surprising celebrity guests and its uncanny ability to predict the future. It’s also responsible for a lot of our favourite gifs and memes. In 2013, the mother of creator Matt Groening, Margaret Ruth Groening, died in her sleep at the age of 94, and her obituary is like a role call of many of the characters from the show.
This explains a lot for The Simpsons. pic.twitter.com/2kZU60fiWA
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) April 1, 2019
Other than pre-pubescent tearaway Bart, the names of the entire Simpsons family have been taken straight from Matt’s own parents and sisters: Homer, Marge, Maggie and Lisa.
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It explains Chief Clancy Wiggum and his son Ralph.
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There’s also a real Aunt Patty, whose name is the inspiration behind this one.
Image: simpsonsworld.com
Although this has been out in the world since 2013 and Matt Groening had made no secret of the source of his characters’ names, it was still a revelation to quite a lot of people, including these.
Is this the sound of pennies dropping? https://t.co/bE48dogEWv
— Michael Topic (@tropicalontour) April 1, 2019
— LSH22 (@Maddison90210) April 1, 2019
All this time, she was Chief Wiggum. We weren't worthy.
— Dante Blando (@pseydtonne) April 1, 2019
But one person had their suspicions due to the timing of the post.
Not sure if this an April.Fools or not https://t.co/1m7kKxMDzf
— Chris O'Donnell (@BackwordssirhC) April 1, 2019
How could anyone doubt Eric like this?