Editing Waylon Smithers (section)

==Sexual orientation==
Smithers is the loyal, obedient and [[sycophant]]ic assistant to Mr. Burns, and the relationship between the two is a frequent [[running gag]]. In many ways, Smithers represents the [[stereotype]] of a [[closeted]] [[gay man]]. Numerous allusions and [[double entendre]]s about his orientation being [[homosexual]] are made, though some of the show's producers instead interpret him as a "Burns-sexual". There has been speculation throughout the series of Smithers' sexuality and in the [[The Simpsons season 27|season 27]] (2016) episode "[[The Burns Cage]]", he officially [[coming out|came out]] as gay.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McDermott|first1=Maeve|title=Smithers officially came out as gay on 'The Simpsons'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/04/04/the-simpsons-smithers-comes-out-as-gay/82603440/|work=USA Today|access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref>