The Simpsons Season 38 Episode 2 Face-Off Gag Based on Real Chimp Attack

The Simpsons season 38, episode 2 aired last night on FOX, and it included a gory nightmare sequence that Screen Rant says has a real-life source. In the episode, Bart and Lisa adopt a baby chimp from a free library box. Homer watches a YouTube video warning that chimps can rip off a person's face and genitals, then dreams that happens to him.

The real-world inspiration came from St. James Davis, a NASCAR Winston West Series driver, and his wife. They adopted a baby chimpanzee named Moe in 1967 and raised him like a child. Over the years Moe bit several people and mauled a police officer's hand, leading to his removal to a sanctuary, Screen Rant reports.

In 2005, the couple visited Moe for his 39th birthday. Two other chimpanzees, Buddy and Ollie, escaped their cages and attacked. The two chimps bit off the wife's thumb while she cut cake, then attacked Davis. According to Screen Rant, citing NBC, the chimps chewed off much of Davis' face, severely mauled his genitals, gouged out one eye, and destroyed many of his fingers, his left foot, part of his torso and most of his buttocks. Someone shot both animals.

This is not the first time The Simpsons has pulled from real events, Screen Rant notes. Season 35 included a fishing tournament cheat inspired by a 2022 incident. Season 5's "Bart Gets an Elephant" likely drew from The Price Is Right giving away an elephant as a prize in the 1950s.

The gory nightmare serves as a lead-up to the "Treehouse of Horror" episode, which Screen Rant says airs October 18, 2026.

• Fox
• Homer Simpson
• Screen Rant
• season 38
• The Simpsons
• Treehouse of Horror