Mr Smithers from ‘The Simpsons’ was originally black!

So, what happened? The producers had always intended for him to be white, but a blunder occurred at the animation stage and the color scheme was completely messed up. 

The animators were originally going to go along with this, until someone pointed out that having a black subservient character might cause controversy, so they changed the color scheme back in his second appearance. 

For those of you left a bit confused by this, Waylon Smithers is Mr Burns’ assistant and care-provider in the TV show the Simpsons. He has an unhealthy obsession with ‘Malibu Stacy’ dolls and is often used to represent the stereotype of a closet gay man. 

Some more interesting facts about The Simpsons: 

• Many characters’ middle initial is J. 
• Kang and Kodos, the two alien characters, are named after Star Trek characters. 
• The Simpsons holds the world records for the longest running prime time TV show and most guest stars on a TV show. 
• The series has parodied Citizen Kane so often that it has often been claimed you could re-enact the entire movie using clips from the show. 
• Many characters are named after streets in Portland, Oregon.

(Source)