Fans of The Simpsons were left heartbroken as the show made a shocking move by 'killing off' one of its main characters for the first time in its long history.

As the longest-running animated series, The Simpsons has gained a reputation for predicting future events with surprising accuracy. Over the years, the show has joked about events like Lady Gaga's iconic Super Bowl halftime entrance, the U.S. battling murder hornets, a pandemic similar to Covid-19, and even Donald Trump's presidential election victory.

While these predictions are among the most notable aspects of the show, the beloved characters have always been at the heart of its success.

For those who haven’t been keeping up with the recent seasons, The Simpsons has seen the loss of characters like Fat Tony and Edna Krabappel, while Ned Flanders has now lost two wives, the first being Maude.

The series is now in its 36th season, and in the finale of the latest one, the creators made the bold decision to 'kill off' Marge Simpson. The final episode, titled Estranger Things, focuses on the relationship between Bart and Lisa as Marge grows concerned about them growing apart. Her worries stem from the fact that they no longer watch Itchy and Scratchy together.

The episode jumps 35 years into the future, where Lisa is flourishing in her career, and Bart is running an unlicensed retirement home. In a surprising twist, Lisa and Bart refer to their "late mother," indicating that Marge passed away sometime before her early 70s.

Homer is also featured in the episode, residing in a care facility in Florida alongside Mr. Skinner and Milhouse. However, Marge is nowhere to be found.

In a poignant moment, Lisa uncovers a letter written by Marge, meant to be read after her passing. The siblings then reunite, help Homer escape from Florida, and watch as Marge ascends to heaven with assistance from Ringo Starr of The Beatles.

Fans were quick to express their shock and sadness on social media. One user tweeted, "I haven’t even watched The Simpsons in 10+ years but they really killed MARGE?!" Another posted, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY KILLED MARGE SIMPSON?!" while a third reacted with, "Yo, they killed Marge off The Simpsons! WHAT?!?!"

Despite the show's long run, The Simpsons has faced its share of criticism over the years. However, creator Matt Groening believes this negativity has actually contributed to the show’s success. He told Variety: "One of the best things that ever happened in the course of the show was that some people forbade the show."