Pedro Pascal GOES OFF After THE SIMPSONS Mock Fantastic Four!?

The internet is buzzing with claims that Pedro Pascal, star of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has “gone off” in response to The Simpsons allegedly mocking Marvel’s latest cinematic outing. Viral YouTube videos and X posts have fueled speculation, with headlines screaming about Pascal’s rage and a supposed feud tied to the film’s underwhelming box office performance. But how much of this is true? Let’s dive into the facts, separate hype from reality, and explore what’s really going on with Pascal, The Simpsons, and Marvel’s Fantastic Four.

The Claim: Did The Simpsons Mock Fantastic Four?

The rumor originates from YouTube videos posted on August 4 and August 16, 2025, with titles like “Pedro Pascal GOES OFF After THE SIMPSONS Mock Fantastic Four!” and “Pedro Pascal SNAPS After THE SIMPSONS MOCK Fantastic Four! 😱 | Marvel Meltdown EXPOSED”. These videos, which garnered significant views, suggest The Simpsons took a “direct jab” at The Fantastic Four: First Steps, prompting a furious reaction from Pascal. However, neither video provides specific details about the alleged Simpsons content—no episode title, air date, or clip is cited. A search of recent Simpsons episodes (Season 36, airing in 2025) and online discussions on platforms like Reddit and X yields no evidence of a 2025 episode explicitly mocking the film.

The Simpsons has a long history of satirizing pop culture, including Marvel properties. For instance, the 2019 episode “I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say D’oh” parodied superhero films, and earlier seasons poked fun at comic book tropes. Given the timing, it’s possible a Season 36 episode referenced the MCU’s Fantastic Four reboot, perhaps through a throwaway gag about its retro aesthetic or high-profile cast, including Pascal as Reed Richards. However, without a verified episode or clip, the claim remains speculative. An X post from @burglahobbit on August 7, 2025, suggests The Simpsons was mocking Snyder fans hoping Superman would outshine Fantastic Four, not the film itself, further muddying the narrative.

Pascal’s “Furious” Reaction: Fact or Fiction?

The YouTube videos and related X posts claim Pascal “snapped” or “went off” in response to the alleged Simpsons jab, tying his supposed outburst to the film’s box office struggles. Yet, no mainstream outlet—Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, or Entertainment Weekly—reports a specific incident of Pascal reacting to The Simpsons. Instead, Pascal’s public statements about First Steps focus on his sensitivity to casting backlash, not animated satire. In a July 2025 AP News interview, he addressed criticism about his age (50) for playing Reed Richards, saying, “I think that sometimes the outside will find you no matter how much you try to protect yourself from it, and it just comes with the territory”. He emphasized giving the role “all my focus and all my heart” to meet fan expectations, a far cry from a “meltdown.”

The “going off” narrative seems to be clickbait, possibly conflating Pascal’s comments on casting criticism with broader fan discontent. Some X users, like @MarvelSkeptic, have speculated about Pascal facing backlash for unverified political remarks, but no credible source links him to a Simpsons-specific rant. CoronaToday’s suggested Pascal’s “need to speak out” could harm the film’s box office, but this refers to alleged anti-MAGA comments, not an animated show. The absence of direct quotes or footage of Pascal addressing The Simpsons strongly suggests the story is exaggerated for viral traction.

The Box Office Context: A Real Struggle

While the Simpsons drama lacks substance, the film’s box office performance provides context for why such rumors gain traction. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, released July 25, 2025, opened to $117.6 million domestically and $218 million globally, a solid start for a franchise with a spotty cinematic history. Critics praised its retro-futuristic style and cast, with Variety noting “excellent performances” from Pascal and Kirby. However, the film dropped 66-67% in its second weekend, earning $38.7-$40 million domestically, and by its fourth weekend, it was down to $8.8 million, with global totals at $370-371.9 million against a $200 million budget.

This steep decline—worse than the expected 55-60%—has been labeled a “disaster” by some outlets, though ComicBook.com argues it’s the highest-grossing Fantastic Four film when adjusted for inflation, with a projected $520-570 million final tally. Compared to MCU hits like Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.3 billion) or Superman ($850 million, 53% second-week drop), First Steps struggles, likely due to competition and the Fantastic Four’s niche appeal. Forbes notes, “These characters are not particularly popular,” highlighting the challenge of reviving a B-tier superhero team.

The Cultural Spark: Why the Rumor Persists

The Simpsons rumor taps into a broader cultural narrative around First Steps. Some X posts and YouTube channels, like Mike Zeroh’s, suggest the film’s drop stems from a backlash by conservative fans, possibly tied to unverified claims of Pascal making anti-MAGA or anti-Trump remarks. This echoes past MCU controversies, such as Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel or Rachel Zegler’s Snow White, where perceived political stances fueled fan pushback. Breitbart and Outkick have framed Disney’s recent flops, including First Steps, as evidence of audience rejection of “woke” agendas, though no specific Pascal comments are substantiated.

The Simpsons angle may also reflect the show’s knack for timely satire, which fans assume could target a high-profile flop. An X post from @FarfarQuack praised the film’s execution, countering the “disaster” narrative, but the lack of concrete Simpsons evidence suggests the story is a mix of speculation and exaggeration. Disney’s history of clashing with conservative audiences, like the 2022 DeSantis feud, adds fuel to the fire, but the Simpsons claim appears more opportunistic than factual.

Disney and Marvel’s Next Steps

Despite the box office dip, Disney and Marvel remain committed to the Fantastic Four. Pascal and the cast are confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), with Variety quoting CEO Bob Iger calling First Steps a “successful launch” for the franchise. The film’s A- CinemaScore and 7.3/10 IMDb rating indicate decent audience reception, though The Boston Globe criticized its “sluggish” pacing. Marvel’s broader challenges—flops like The Marvels (78% drop, $187 million) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (70% drop, $476 million)—suggest a need for stronger storytelling to combat superhero fatigue.

The “Pedro Pascal goes off” narrative is likely clickbait, with no evidence tying him to a Simpsons-related outburst. The film’s struggles are real but exaggerated, and the Simpsons jab remains unverified. As Marvel moves toward Doomsday with Pascal’s Reed Richards alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, the focus will be on delivering a hit that silences the doubters. For now, the internet’s outrage machine keeps churning, but Pascal and Marvel are staying the course.