‘The Simpsons’ Spoilers: Did Waylon J. Smithers, Jr. Finally Come Out Gay In New Episode?

After 27 seasons of not-so-subtle hints on The Simpsons, Waylon J. Smithers Jr. finally came out of the closet! In an episode inspired by a Simpsons writer's relationship with his gay son, the beloved character revealed to the viewers that he is also gay.

Long-time show writer Rob LaZebnik said that the decision of revealing Smither's sexual orientation was inspired by his gay 21-year-old son, Johnny.

“I am a Midwestern guy, so I don’t tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve, but I thought, ‘What better way to tell my son I love him than to write a cartoon about it?’” LaZebnik shared in an interview with the New York Post.

Now in college, Johnny told the Post, "The revelation that my father loves me is not much of a revelation, thankfully. He's unbelievably accepting. We're as close as a straight dad and a gay son could be."

Mr. Smithers' coming out was inspired by a @TheSimpsons writer's love for his gay son: https://t.co/9inAp1Qj7m pic.twitter.com/TQFR4dqrOb

— NewNowNext (@NewNowNext) April 1, 2016

In the episode, titled "The Burns Cage" LaZebnik was aiming for a low-key reveal, "We didn’t really want to have that big moment of “I’m out,” you know? Instead, just have it be a big embrace – like everyone knows it."

In the clip from Fox, Homer Simpson heard that his boss at the power plant, Smithers, finally came out of the closet. He tried to set up a party full of eligible bachelors at the his home for him.

Simpson asks Smithers if he wanted a Tom Collins, and he didn’t mean the drink! He’s invited a handsome blonde man named Tom Collins, whom he’d like his boss to date!

The Simpsons long hinted that Smithers was gay, eventually becoming the long-running animated series' worst-kept secret.