The Simpsons producer insists Disney is not censoring the series after Fox merger

Disney took ownership of the long-running cartoon early last year

A producer on The Simpsons has refuted the idea that the show has been subject to censorship following the merger of Disney and Fox.

Disney are known for their family-oriented content, which had prompted censorship concerns among some fans of the irreverent long-running sitcom.

However, series producer Michael Price told CBR that the show’s forthcoming 32nd season had been created under much the same conditions as before.

“I haven't had any direct interactions with anyone from Disney as far as I can tell,” Price said. “They just let us do what do and make the show that we've been doing for 32 years.” 

Asked whether there had been any difference to the show as a result of Disney’s ownership, Price responded: “As far as the content of the show, not that I've noticed; they more or less let us do what we do.

“The show was on Fox, originally, so we're still working for the Fox Network; the Fox Studio is now owned by Disney.”

Part of the acquisition deal has meant that previous seasons of The Simpsons are available to stream on Disney’s own streaming service, Disney+.

However, the company were criticised earlier this year for only streaming the series in its cropped HD remastered format, which Simpsons fans argue obscures many of the visual jokes.

The company later capitulated, and now provides viewers the option to stream the series in its original 16:9 aspect ratio.

While fears of censorship may have been assuaged by Price’s recent comments, there was reason to query whether Disney might impose its own sensibilities on some of its newly acquired franchise.

The company is famed for not allowing the depiction of smoking on-screen – which caused some friction during the production of Saving Mr Banks (2013), the Disney-produced biopic of its own founder, Walt Disney, a notorious chain-smoker.