Fans devastated after The Simpsons announce 'retirement' of iconic character after three decades

Simpson fans have been both sad and frustrated with the news that an iconic character may not be ‘retired’ from the show.

The Simpsons has been on air basically for all of eternity, at least it feels like it, but with such a long running show come some problems.

The TV show has been running since 1989 (yes, really), and some actors have passed away or simply been written out of the show for other reasons. Following the show’s latest episode in the 37th season, one iconic character that first debuted back in 1997 has seemingly been scrapped.

The episode, entitled Seperance, was a parody of the hit show Severance and the show seemed to come up with an in universe reason as to why one character wouldn’t be returning.

And before you ask, no, this character wasn’t killed off.

Duffman appeared in the latest episode in his civilian clothes saying the character was retired (20th Century Fox)

So, who won’t Simpson fans be seeing anymore? It's none other than the iconic Duffman, Oh... no.

While he wasn’t exactly a main character, the Duffman was a popular Duff Beer spokesperson/mascot who would speak in the third person and turn up randomly thrusting and delivering Duff alongside his iconic theme music and 'Oh yeah!' catchphrase.

In the episode, the Springfieldian man who plays the mascot, Barry Duffman, shared the news with the Simpson family that the company was getting rid of the character.

He told them: “The Duff Corporation has retired that character forever.

“All the old forms of advertising are now passé. Corporate spokesmen, print ads, TV spots. Today's kids can't even sing the jingles."

Duffman may have uttered his last 'Oh yeah!' (20th Century Fox)

By the end of the episode, after Barry attempted to recruit Homer to join a corporation called EOD, before eventually deprogramming himself, the man who plays Duffman is still in his civilian clothes. This has led some to believe the character might truly be done and dusted.

So, while viewers might still be able to catch Barry in the background of some episodes, it is unlikely he’ll be making his Duffman entrance in future episodes.

On social media, people offered their condolences for the loss of Duffman.

One user wrote: “Duffman can finally rest his hips after thirty years of aggressive thrusting he definitely earned a peaceful retirement.

Another sad fan commented: “Mad respect! Rest Well DUFFMAN! OHHH YEAHHH!”

A third also wrote: “30 years of carrying beer culture on his back… let that man rest.”

However, some are hopeful we haven’t seen the last of Duffman, with one adding: “They've retired duffman twice in the Simpsons. He will most definitely be back.”