Al Jean, a longtime writer and executive producer of The Simpsons, has a grim theory about an old episode that features guest voice work from Michael Jackson. Nearly one week ago, Jean, Simpsons executive producer James L. Brooks, and Simpsons creator Matt Groening decided to pull the 1991 episode that features the late singer. The decision was made after the trio watched Leaving Neverland, a documentary detailing pedophilia accusations against Jackson. In an interview with the Daily Beast, Jean opened up about the decision to pull the episode, speculating that Jackson might have used his Simpsons moment to allegedly abuse more children. (Jackson repeatedly denied the allegations prior to his death in 2009; he was acquitted on child-molestation charges in 2005.)

“What saddens me is, if you watch that documentary—which I did, and several of us here did—and you watch that episode, honestly, it looks like the episode was used by Michael Jackson for something other than what we’d intended it,” Jean said. “It wasn’t just a comedy to him, it was something that was used as a tool. And I strongly believe that. . . . It’s why I think removing it is appropriate.”

The episode, titled “Stark Raving Dad,” features the singer taking on a meta role, voicing a character named Leon Kompowsky—a mental-hospital patient who thinks he’s Michael Jackson. The episode, which Jean co-wrote with Mike Reiss, was specially penned for the pop star, and ends with Kompowsky and Bart Simpson writing a song together for Lisa’s birthday. Though it’s “one of the most successful things I ever did,” Jean said, pulling it now was “the right move.” He also reiterated his stance that the episode “was part of what he [Jackson] used to groom boys.”

“I really don’t know, and I should be very careful because this is not something I know personally, but as far as what I think, that’s what I think,” Jean said. “And that makes me very, very sad.”

When the episode was initially pulled from reruns, Brooks commented on the issue on behalf of Jean and Groening, telling The Wall Street Journal that the trio was “of one mind” on the decision—even though it was “a treasured episode.”

“It feels clearly the only choice to make,” he said, adding that Leaving Neverland “gave evidence of monstrous behavior.” Radio stations in Canada and New Zealand have also decided to stop playing Jackson’s music in the wake of the documentary.

The Jackson estate, meanwhile, has responded to Leaving Neverland by filing a $100 million lawsuit against HBO for airing the film.

More Great Stories from Vanity Fair

— 10 undeniable facts about Michael Jackson’s sexual abuse allegations

— The new HBO—and its coming battle with Netflix

— Captain Marvel is a period piece, a space adventure, and an attempt at feminist filmmaking—and, our critic writes, it mostly succeeds

— Thought Borat was daring? Wait until you see Dangerous World of Comedy

Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story.