Oh, I'll just let them explain. From the American Family Association (which ironically has its own history with anti-Semitism):
Moms, this has to be the worst of the worse of all "The Simpsons" episodes. In an upcoming episode Homer Simpson will visit Jerusalem and contract Jerusalem Syndrome. This is a psychological condition where visitors to the Holy Land become convinced that they are biblical figures and Homer believes he's the Messiah. The Simpsons' overly aggressive Israeli tour guide is going to be none other than Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Bruno).Then there was the time the AFA promoted the "Nazi"-type science of a known hate group.
The episode is titled "The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed" and set to air on Fox March 28th which will coincide with Palm Sunday. The official description of the episode involves the Simpson family going on a church trip to the Holy Land.
In an interview, "The Simpsons" Executive Producer Al Jean states that Sacha Baron Cohen will play a "pretty angry but funny" Israeli tour guide. Jean promises this Easter special will "be a show that all faiths can come together and be offended by."
Jean also discloses that Cohen's character is "trying to get Marge to give him good grades on the comment card, and she goes, 'You people are pushy,' and he goes, 'What do you mean, you people? You try having Syria for a neighbor! What do you have – Canada?'"
"The Simpsons" has never been a family-friendly show, but this is going too far. As Christians we are appalled and this is not the first time the producers of this show have made poor decisions. Marge Simpson made the cover of "Playboy" magazine November 2009. And a 2002 episode where the family visited Rio de Janeiro sparked an official complaint from authorities in the Brazilian city.
This animated program has gone from inappropriate, to crude, to now offensive. Simpsons producer Jean doesn't seem to mind that we will be offended by this religiously-themed episode.
