Julian Assange 'to guest star in The Simpsons'
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange recorded his lines for his Simpsons character from a secret location Photo: FOX TV/Matt Groening
Julian Assange, founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, is about to meet his yellow-skinned alter-ego in a cameo appearance on hit US show The Simpsons.
The silver-haired activist, who is still under house arrest in the UK, will play himself in a special airing of the animated series, celebrating the programme’s 500th episode.
Assange recorded his lines from a secret location, after show creator Matt Groening heard a rumour that he was interested in appearing on the television programme.
In the episode, which will air on February 19 in the US, Simpsons characters Homer and Marge hear that Springfield residents have been holding secret meetings to evict the troublesome family from the town.
“The Simpsons go off the grid to this very rugged place where they meet [Assange], who’s sort of their new Flanders,” said Al Jean, executive producer of the show.
However, aside from being their new next door neighbour, the similarities between Flanders and Assange end there. When the Simpsons are invited to watch a home movie with Assange they find themselves watching an Afghan wedding being bombed.
“He’s a controversial figure, and there’s a good reason he’s controversial,”Mr Jean told US journalists. “There was discussion internally whether or not to have him on the show, but ultimately we went ahead and did it.”
Julian Assange is due to appear at a hearing in the Supreme Court on Wednesday to appeal extradition to Sweden over sex crime allegations.
Previous cameo appearances on the show include Tony Blair, Simon Cowell, The Beatles, and Dustin Hoffman.
- Amy Willis, Los Angeles
