‘Grand Theft Auto’ fans mock ‘The Simpsons’ ‘San Andreas’ shout-out: “20 years too late”

Grand Theft Auto fans have been mocking a new episode of The Simpsons which features a few references to 2004’s San Andreas

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The final episode of The Simpsons’ season 36 ‘Estranger Things’ aired last month but a clip from the TV show has gone viral across social media, with Homer making numerous references to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

“I don’t want Bart and Lisa to be the kind of siblings who stop speaking and drift apart,” says Marge in the clip. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. We don’t want them to end up like Sweet Johnson and CJ Johnson in Grand Theft Auto,” replied Homer. Marge then admits she’s never played that game.

“Marge, when you grow up in Los Santos and Big Smoke needs you to move that powder, the game has a way of playing you.”

In the latest episode of The Simpsons, Homer talks about San Andreas! pic.twitter.com/3iWrmZu3yz

— CentralGamingHub (@CGHchannel) June 29, 2025

Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson, Sean ‘Sweet’ Johnson and Big Smoke all feature heavily in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which is set in the fictional state of Los Santos. However the reference has been getting a mixed response from GTA fans.

“This show has absolutely lost the plot. It’s just borderline Family Guy with all these ridiculous out of place gags. Simpsons never used to be like this,” said one fan. “Yeah this felt incredibly forced and weird. Homer even references the characters of Grove Street lmao,” wrote another. “Why the fuck would you reference a 20 year old game,” added a third. Other fans are annoyed that creators missed the perfect chance to reference fan-favourite game The Simpsons Hit & Run, which started life as a Grand Theft Auto parody.

However other fans have praised the crossover. “That’s peak nostalgia—two cultural icons, one screen,” said one viewer. “The Simpsons always has fun references. Love seeing GTA pop up like this,” added another.

“When The Simpsons drop that GTA San Andreas reference, you know gaming culture’s properly mainstream! Homer in a diaper living that Los Santos life is peak comedy. Classic games never fade, they just level up to legendary status,” wrote another X user.

When The Simpsons drop that GTA San Andreas reference, you know gaming culture’s properly mainstream! Homer in a diaper living that Los Santos life is peak comedy. Classic games never fade, they just level up to legendary status

— Juma | Kenya’s Betting Guru (@Juma_bet) June 30, 2025

It’s not the first time The Simpsons has referenced Grand Theft Auto. In the 2007 movie, Homer plays a game called Grand Theft Walrus and in season 18, Bart plays a game called Death Kill City II: Death Kill Stories that’s clearly inspired by GTA.

The ‘Estranger Things’ episode of The Simpsons also featured the death of Marge, which devastated fans.

In other news, CHVRCHES performed together for the first time in two years at last night’s Death Stranding 2: On The Beach celebration event in London

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