“The Simpsons” producer apologizes for killing off longtime character but says it was supposed to hurt

Larry the barfly met his demise after 35 seasons on the show.

Moe's Tavern lost a longtime patron in the latest episode of The Simpsons, sending not just Homer & Co. but also viewers into mourning.

Larry “The Barfly” Dalrymple, a background character voiced by Harry Shearer who had frequented the town watering hole since the show's debut season in 1989, dropped dead there in "Cremains of the Day," the season 35 episode that aired this past Sunday.

In the wake of the surprise death, Tim Long, a co-executive producer of the animated sitcom, explained that the creative team intended for it to hit viewers hard despite Larry's smaller-role status. Talking with TMZ, he said that while he was sorry if the plot point upset fans, their disappointment speaks to how beloved the show is.

Fans have been grieving Larry's death on social media.

The rest of "Cremains of the Day" followed Homer, Moe, Carl, and Lenny as they attended Larry's funeral, where they were plagued with guilt over being "terrible people" after realizing they knew very little about him despite all their time spent together. His friends then spread his ashes.

Other characters who have died during the show's run include Ned Flanders' first wife, Maude (who has reappeared in flashbacks); Lisa's mentor Bleeding Gums Murphy; and Krusty's dad, Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky.

A new episode of The Simpsons airs May 5 on Fox.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• The 25 best Simpsons episodes, ranked

• The Simpsons will parody Silicon Valley with new star-studded episode

• Conan O'Brien fondly recalls the 'terrible' Simpsons writers' room and the caramel 'mashed' on its ceiling

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.