Animation titan Matt Groening didn’t mince words when he urged Americans to “delete Fox News,” claiming the network has become a dangerous influence on public perception. But it was Jesse Watters’ furious live clapback that took the feud from simmering to explosive. Interrupting a segment with unfiltered rage, Watters unloaded on Groening’s “elitist hypocrisy,” calling him out for decades of satirical profit while now pretending to be above it. His reaction shocked even longtime co-hosts, raising a bigger question—why did Groening speak now, and what’s about to unravel next?

Watch the uncensored exchange that has fans and critics alike picking sides in the war between satire and media firepower.

Matt Groening, told viewers to delete the channel. (Getty)

In a bombshell declaration that blindsided fans and ignited a firestorm on live television, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening dropped a seismic warning at San Diego Comic-Con: “Delete Fox News.” It was a phrase delivered with calm finality—but the tremors it set off were anything but quiet.

Groening, the creative force behind the longest-running animated series in U.S. history, stood before a packed crowd on July 26 and uttered a sentence that would ripple far beyond the convention walls. Urging Americans to “outFox” what he called a dangerous influence, Groening didn’t just critique the network—he practically called for its erasure.

But it was Jesse Watters’ furious, unscripted clapback live on Fox News that pushed the controversy into open warfare. With cameras rolling and co-hosts watching in stunned silence, Watters went off-script, launching into a verbal assault on Groening’s “elitist hypocrisy,” slamming the legendary animator for profiting off satire while denouncing the very network that helped build his empire.

“He made millions making fun of everyone—us included—and now suddenly he’s a moral authority?” Watters shouted. “Spare me.”

The temperature on the set shifted instantly. Even hardened panelists on The Five appeared shaken by Watters’ vehemence. What began as a routine evening segment morphed into a raw, explosive takedown that aired coast to coast.

Matt Groening wanted to “outFox” Republican parents. (Getty)

A Warning from the Godfather of Satire

Matt Groening, who has long used The Simpsons and Futurama to skewer politicians, corporations, and social norms, has never been shy about embedding critiques of power into his work. But this—this was different.

Groening wasn’t speaking through a cartoon this time. He was speaking directly. Urging fans to grab their remotes, navigate through settings, and “delete Fox News” from their televisions, Groening cast the network not just as satire fodder, but as an active threat to American perception.

“Children will liberate their Republican parents from the cult,” Groening predicted to the Comic-Con crowd, his voice half-joking, half-dead serious. “Start by deleting the channel.”

He even walked them through the steps: “Menu, controls, channel list—delete Fox News.”

The moment was surreal. This was no longer fiction. This was a real-world call to action. And it sent shockwaves through both Hollywood and cable news.

The Hypocrisy Debate: Watters Explodes

Jesse Watters didn’t wait long to respond. Hours after Groening’s comments went viral, the Fox host interrupted his own segment to address what he called “Groening’s smug delusion.”

“Let me get this straight,” Watters began, voice rising. “You sit in your Hollywood mansion, on a pile of syndication money from a show that aired on our network for over a decade, and you tell us we’re the danger?”

He didn’t stop there. Watters, visibly heated, accused Groening of “weaponizing satire” to undermine millions of viewers while simultaneously relying on the very same viewers to fuel the legacy of The Simpsons.

“You bit the hand that fed you—and now you’re trying to erase it like it never fed you at all,” Watters snapped.

His monologue drew visible discomfort from fellow panelists. Dana Perino leaned back, arms crossed. Jeanine Pirro glanced sideways, unsure whether to jump in or let the flames burn out. No one did.

And by the time Watters finished, it was clear this wasn’t just about Groening. It was about The Viewership, the ongoing cultural divide, and the growing war between legacy satire and modern-day media loyalty.

A Longstanding Feud, Reignited

This isn’t the first time Groening and his creations have taken shots at Fox News. In the 2010 Simpsons episode “The Fool Monty,” a helicopter flew across the screen with a biting message: “Fox News: Not Racist, But #1 With Racists.” The punchline sparked outrage from pundits like Bill O’Reilly, who accused the show of “biting the hand that feeds it.”

But Groening’s response was simple—and savage. In the very next episode, another helicopter appeared, this one reading: “Fox News. Unsuitable For Viewers Under 75.”

That back-and-forth faded over time. But this latest eruption feels final. It’s not just a joke anymore. It’s a line in the sand.

Why Now?

What’s unclear is why Groening chose this moment to speak so forcefully. Was it a political tipping point? A personal shift? Or something deeper?

Some insiders speculate that Groening, now decades into his career and largely untouchable in the world of animation, finally feels free to express what he’s long felt behind closed doors. Others suggest Disney’s control over The Simpsons—which was acquired in the 2019 merger—has given him new creative cover to distance himself from Fox’s cable division.

Whatever the reason, his timing couldn’t have been more potent. With Fox News already embroiled in multiple internal tensions and ratings battles, Groening’s viral soundbite hit a raw nerve. And Watters’  televised meltdown confirmed it.

The Fallout: A Battle of Influence

Groening’s call to “delete Fox News” wasn’t just a symbolic swipe—it was a direct challenge to the network’s cultural grip. And in a media landscape where perception is currency, that challenge landed like a grenade.

Within hours, social media was ablaze. Some hailed Groening as a hero reclaiming his voice from corporate entanglement. Others labeled him a “Hollywood traitor” for turning on the platform that once championed his work.

Meanwhile, Fox News insiders reportedly held emergency meetings on how to handle the public feud, fearing it could escalate further if more celebrities followed suit.

As of now, Groening has offered no further comment. But the damage—or transformation—is already underway.

What Comes Next

Will The Simpsons reference the feud? Will Watters double down with more on-air rants? Will other Fox personalities join the fight?

One thing is certain: This is no longer just about satire. It’s about ownership. Credibility. Control of the cultural narrative.

And for the first time in years, it seems both sides—satirist and anchor—are dropping their masks. The jokes have stopped. The gloves are off.

In the war between the media and those who mock it, a single sentence from Matt Groening just detonated the next chapter.

Stay tuned.