Michael Stipe Makes Second ‘Simpsons’ Appearance Singing “Everybody Hurts” Parod

Former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe returned to The Simpsons for the second time during Sunday’s season 37 finale. Stipe performed a parody of R.E.M.’s 1992 hit “Everybody Hurts” in the episode “Homer? A Cracker Bro?,” which featured Homer Simpson and Kirk Van Houten starting a crumbless cracker company. The song includes the pun “Everybody Kirks, crumb times” and addresses Van Houten’s depression following a manic episode that disrupts his successful business. Stipe’s animated character is dressed just like he was in the iconic music video for “Everybody Hurts.” “I was super flattered to be invited back into The Simpsons universe, and particularly with this grand message of great hope,” Stipe wrote in an Instagram post on R.E.M.’s page. His first Simpsons appearance was in 2001 when R.E.M. played Homer’s garage bar after being told it benefited rainforest conservation.