1. “The Simpsons Predicted the Coronavirus”
Nope. The screenshot is edited.
The claim:
A meme shows four panels implying The Simpsons predicted COVID-19 decades before it happened, complete with an infected Homer and a newsroom graphic reading “CORONA VIRUS.”
The truth:
Three of those panels are real - but they’re from a 1993 episode about the fictional “Osaka Flu,” inspired by earlier real-world flu outbreaks. The Top-left panel was edited. The original graphic said “Apocalypse Meow,” not “Corona Virus.”
Also, pandemics have existed forever. Satire ≠ prophecy.
2. “They Predicted Autocorrect”
The joke wasn’t about autocorrect - and autocorrect already existed.
The claim:
The iconic “Beat up Martin” turning into “Eat up Martha” is often cited as the moment The Simpsons predicted autocorrect.
The truth:
Autocorrect was already a Microsoft Word feature in 1993. The joke is about early handwriting recognition on devices like the Apple Newton, which famously struggled to understand human handwriting. A commentary, not a prophecy.
3. “They Predicted the Notre Dame Fire”
Nope. Someone just added flames.
The claim:
Screenshots show Springfield’s Notre Dame cathedral on fire long before the real tragedy in Paris.
The truth:
The original episode features a spoof of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The cathedral never burns. The flames, smoke, and even Mr. Burns lurking nearby were digitally added later for maximum meme-ability.
4. “They Predicted Trump’s Esclator Announcement”
The 2000 ‘prediction’ was made… in 2015.
The claim:
A side-by-side comparison shows Trump riding an escalator in The Simpsons in 2000, perfectly matching his real 2015 presidential announcement.
The truth:
The escalator scene is from a YouTube parody released in 2015, after the real event happened.
The only real prediction was the 2000 joke about President Trump - and he had already been flirting with running since the late 90s.
5. “They Predicted Twitter Rebranding to X”
That little ‘X’ icon was Photoshopped.
The claim:
A screenshot of Homer’s phone appears to show the Twitter app replaced with an “X” logo long before Elon Musk rebranded the platform.
The truth:
The original screenshot has a completely different icon. Someone edited the frame years later and the internet ran with it. Simpsons fans love Photoshop almost as much as they love conspiracy theories.
6. “They Invented the Smartwatch”
They didn’t. Smartwatches existed decades before.
The claim:
Lisa’s future fiancé uses a wrist-mounted phone in a 1995 episode, proving The Simpsons predicted the Apple Watch.
The truth:
Sci-fi wrist-computers have existed since the 1950s.
Seiko released data-entry watches in the 80s.
Timex launched the Datalink smartwatch in 1994.
Simpsons didn’t invent anything - they referenced tech that already existed.
7. “They Predicted the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse”
The bank sign was replaced in Photoshop.
The claim:
A Simpsons screenshot shows “Silicon Valley Bank” years before the 2023 collapse.
The truth:
The real episode features “First Bank of Springfield.” The entire sign was edited. probably using Microsoft Paint instead of photoshop.
8. “They Predicted the Apple Vision Pro”
The episode aired after VR headsets already hit the market.
The claim:
A Simpsons clip of characters walking around with VR goggles proves the show predicted the Apple Vision Pro.
The truth:
The episode aired in 2016. By then, Oculus Rift was already out and VR was a mainstream trend.
Simpsons didn’t predict Vision Pro - they just made fun of VR culture like everyone else.
9. “They Predicted the Tesla Cybertruck”
The episode aired after the Cybertruck was revealed.
The claim:
Screenshots show a Cybertruck-like car in The Simpsons long before Elon Musk unveiled the vehicle.
The truth:
The episode in question aired in 2022. The Cybertruck reveal was in 2019. The resemblance is funny, not prophetic.
10. “They Predicted Pokémon Go”
This one is just straight-up Photoshopped. Again.
The claim:
A meme shows Homer pointing at a Pikachu through an early smartphone, proving The Simpsons foresaw Pokémon Go.
The truth:
The background is from a totally unrelated season 14 episode.
The phone + Pokémon overlay was digitally added. The Simpsons has many weird predictions, but Homer never hunted Pikachu.
In Conclusion:
At the end of the day, The Simpsons isn’t a crystal ball, it’s a cartoon that’s been around long enough to accidentally rhyme with reality once in a while. Most of these so called predictions survive because we love the idea of hidden messages and time travelers more than we love… fact checking. So next time you see a viral “Simpsons predicted it!!” post, take two seconds, squint, and remember that the internet is a Photoshop playground where skepticism is your best friend. Not everything yellow is gold.
