No, Marge Simpson Isn’t Dead — ‘The Simpsons’ EP Sets the Record Straight After Finale Confusion

Springfield’s iconic blue-haired matriarch isn’t going anywhere — despite what a handful of viral headlines may have suggested. Marge Simpson is still very much alive, and no, The Simpsons didn’t kill her off for good.

Following a wave of online outrage sparked by the Season 36 finale, executive producer Matt Selman has reassured fans over social media that Marge’s apparent death was purely part of a speculative storyline — and not a permanent plot twist. “Marge will probably never be dead ever again,” Selman told Variety. “There is no canon. The Simpsons doesn’t even have canon!”

The finale episode, titled “Estranger Things”, aired back on May 18 but only recently sparked concern online. In the episode, viewers were taken years into the future, where Marge is depicted as having died. Bart and Lisa, long grown up and emotionally distant, are reunited after discovering a heartfelt message Marge left behind. The twist? Marge is watching from the afterlife — lounging in heaven and, humorously, in a relationship with none other than Ringo Starr.

The depiction left some fans confused and emotional, with many taking to social media to express shock. Some even called it “the end of an era,” believing the show had made a definitive decision to kill off one of its core characters. That reaction snowballed, with certain websites running sensational headlines — often omitting the critical detail that the episode took place in an alternate future timeline.

According to Selman, those headlines were never accurate to begin with. “Every outlet that published the ‘Marge is dead’ story knew the truth,” he said. “They just chose traffic over context. But at the same time, maybe it shows how much people still care about her.”

The confusion isn’t entirely surprising. The Simpsons has made a habit of playing with timelines, alternate realities, and hypothetical futures. Over its 790+ episodes, the show has portrayed the Simpson family in countless scenarios — aging, changing careers, even living in space — all without any real long-term impact on the show’s continuity.

The show’s long history with non-linear storytelling means that flash-forwards, like the one featured in the finale, are far from rare. What’s unique this time is how viewers interpreted the ending. Unlike actual permanent character deaths in the series — such as Maude Flanders or Edna Krabappel — Marge’s appearance in heaven was not meant to be literal or final.

And while fans may still be reeling, The Simpsons isn’t showing signs of slowing down. Fox recently renewed the series through Season 40, ensuring that Marge, voiced by Julie Kavner since 1989, will remain a part of America’s favorite animated family for years to come.

The Season 36 premiere itself even playfully posed as a series finale, so it’s clear the writers are still enjoying the creative freedom to twist expectations. Selman noted that “future episodes are all speculative fantasies,” meaning each imagined timeline stands on its own — with no lasting consequences for the show’s present-day reality.

Ultimately, Selman views the uproar as a silver lining. “It’s kind of amazing that people still get this worked up about The Simpsons,” he said. “After all these years, the fact that people genuinely care about Marge speaks volumes.”

So, fans can relax: Marge isn’t going anywhere. And if past episodes are anything to go by, she’ll probably live through robot apocalypses, space travel, and countless more “what-if” scenarios. But one thing’s for sure — Springfield just wouldn’t be the same without her.