these episodes sparked quite the backlash welcome to watchmojo.com and
backlash welcome to watchmojo.com and
backlash welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for
today we’re counting down our picks for
today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten controversial TV episodes
the top ten controversial TV episodes
the top ten controversial TV episodes before we begin we publish new videos
before we begin we publish new videos
before we begin we publish new videos every day
every day
every day so be sure to subscribe for more great
so be sure to subscribe for more great
so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re looking at
content for this list we’re looking at
content for this list we’re looking at the episodes of television that prompted
the episodes of television that prompted
the episodes of television that prompted a public outcry
a public outcry
a public outcry we’re censored or otherwise stirred up
we’re censored or otherwise stirred up
we’re censored or otherwise stirred up heated discussion we will not be
heated discussion we will not be
heated discussion we will not be including season finales or animated
including season finales or animated
including season finales or animated episodes however as those have lists of
episodes however as those have lists of
episodes however as those have lists of their own shall we number 10 honey
their own shall we number 10 honey
their own shall we number 10 honey Degrassi are you reading she’s acting of
Degrassi are you reading she’s acting of
Degrassi are you reading she’s acting of your lives
your lives
your lives she is well this teen drama has never
she is well this teen drama has never
she is well this teen drama has never shied away from controversial or taboo
shied away from controversial or taboo
shied away from controversial or taboo topics one of its most contentious
topics one of its most contentious
topics one of its most contentious moments with this season 13 episode
moments with this season 13 episode
moments with this season 13 episode which featured the death of fan favorite
which featured the death of fan favorite
which featured the death of fan favorite character Adam Torres drawing on modern
character Adam Torres drawing on modern
character Adam Torres drawing on modern issues Adam dies after an accident
issues Adam dies after an accident
issues Adam dies after an accident caused by texting and driving the death
caused by texting and driving the death
caused by texting and driving the death of a beloved character is often a sad
of a beloved character is often a sad
of a beloved character is often a sad and anger and voguing event for many
and anger and voguing event for many
and anger and voguing event for many fans but being the first transgender
fans but being the first transgender
fans but being the first transgender character on the show Adams death was a
character on the show Adams death was a
character on the show Adams death was a particularly rough blow for Degrassi
particularly rough blow for Degrassi
particularly rough blow for Degrassi viewers
number nine I’ll see you in court
number nine I’ll see you in court married with children hey I told you we
married with children hey I told you we
married with children hey I told you we should never have sex no everybody’s
should never have sex no everybody’s
should never have sex no everybody’s going to know it was a series notorious
going to know it was a series notorious
going to know it was a series notorious for being more racy than its
for being more racy than its
for being more racy than its contemporaries but this episode is
contemporaries but this episode is
contemporaries but this episode is perhaps its most controversial in large
perhaps its most controversial in large
perhaps its most controversial in large part due to censoring by the network
part due to censoring by the network
part due to censoring by the network I’ll see you in court sees Al and Peggy
I’ll see you in court sees Al and Peggy
I’ll see you in court sees Al and Peggy attempt to spice up their sex life by
attempt to spice up their sex life by
attempt to spice up their sex life by trying it somewhere new only to end up
trying it somewhere new only to end up
trying it somewhere new only to end up being filmed without their consent which
being filmed without their consent which
being filmed without their consent which leads them to seek compensation for the
leads them to seek compensation for the
leads them to seek compensation for the violation of their privacy you can’t do
violation of their privacy you can’t do
violation of their privacy you can’t do this al remove this woman ya lose what
this al remove this woman ya lose what
this al remove this woman ya lose what little confidence he already have going
little confidence he already have going
little confidence he already have going unaired for years on US television the
unaired for years on US television the
unaired for years on US television the episode gained a reputation as the lost
episode gained a reputation as the lost
episode gained a reputation as the lost episode upon viewing it however more
episode upon viewing it however more
episode upon viewing it however more recent critics have found it fairly
recent critics have found it fairly
recent critics have found it fairly vanilla chalk this one up to overzealous
vanilla chalk this one up to overzealous
vanilla chalk this one up to overzealous censors if we have been on tape we would
censors if we have been on tape we would
censors if we have been on tape we would have made a Million number eight
have made a Million number eight
have made a Million number eight 13100 how dare you bring this to me on
13100 how dare you bring this to me on
13100 how dare you bring this to me on Ascension Day killing off a character
Ascension Day killing off a character
Ascension Day killing off a character who exemplifies an underrepresented
who exemplifies an underrepresented
who exemplifies an underrepresented demographic can often result in a public
demographic can often result in a public
demographic can often result in a public outcry and the death of LexA one of the
outcry and the death of LexA one of the
outcry and the death of LexA one of the few gay characters on the hundred was
few gay characters on the hundred was
few gay characters on the hundred was another case of this fans were
another case of this fans were
another case of this fans were particularly upset since acts and gay
particularly upset since acts and gay
particularly upset since acts and gay characters is common enough to be a
characters is common enough to be a
characters is common enough to be a rather morbid trope the writing staff of
rather morbid trope the writing staff of
rather morbid trope the writing staff of the hundred has apologized for their
the hundred has apologized for their
the hundred has apologized for their handling of the deaths since the episode
handling of the deaths since the episode
handling of the deaths since the episode aired though saying that they would have
aired though saying that they would have
aired though saying that they would have done things differently in hindsight
on a happier note over 170,000 dollars
on a happier note over 170,000 dollars was raised by fans to support LGBTQ
was raised by fans to support LGBTQ
was raised by fans to support LGBTQ teens in need after the episode aired
teens in need after the episode aired
teens in need after the episode aired number 7 on all fours girls you don’t
number 7 on all fours girls you don’t
number 7 on all fours girls you don’t know for us girls have generated plenty
know for us girls have generated plenty
know for us girls have generated plenty of controversy and discomfort for its
of controversy and discomfort for its
of controversy and discomfort for its audience but this episode took the
audience but this episode took the
audience but this episode took the series signature cringe comedy and
series signature cringe comedy and
series signature cringe comedy and cranked the squirm level up to 11 while
cranked the squirm level up to 11 while
cranked the squirm level up to 11 while the majority of on all fours drew
the majority of on all fours drew
the majority of on all fours drew criticism for being one of the darkest
criticism for being one of the darkest
criticism for being one of the darkest outings in the show to that point with
outings in the show to that point with
outings in the show to that point with extremely uncomfortable storylines for
extremely uncomfortable storylines for
extremely uncomfortable storylines for many of the cast the epitome of the tone
many of the cast the epitome of the tone
many of the cast the epitome of the tone shift came in the titular sex scene
shift came in the titular sex scene
shift came in the titular sex scene which featured rough humiliating sex but
which featured rough humiliating sex but
which featured rough humiliating sex but some viewers felt bordered on rape no no
some viewers felt bordered on rape no no
some viewers felt bordered on rape no no not a magician
not a magician
not a magician while HBO in general is noted for
while HBO in general is noted for
while HBO in general is noted for featuring programs that delve into the
featuring programs that delve into the
featuring programs that delve into the darker side of sex many viewers
darker side of sex many viewers
darker side of sex many viewers apparently felt shocked to witness
apparently felt shocked to witness
apparently felt shocked to witness something quite so extreme on what is
something quite so extreme on what is
something quite so extreme on what is primarily a comedy I’m so sorry I don’t
primarily a comedy I’m so sorry I don’t
primarily a comedy I’m so sorry I don’t know what came over me
know what came over me
know what came over me number 6 you’re shot Buffy the Vampire
number 6 you’re shot Buffy the Vampire
number 6 you’re shot Buffy the Vampire Slayer we could just get rid of all this
Slayer we could just get rid of all this
Slayer we could just get rid of all this news Buffy and the rest of the Scooby
news Buffy and the rest of the Scooby
news Buffy and the rest of the Scooby Gang dealt with many supernatural
Gang dealt with many supernatural
Gang dealt with many supernatural threats during their adventures but one
threats during their adventures but one
threats during their adventures but one of their most talked-about episodes
of their most talked-about episodes
of their most talked-about episodes dealt with a problem that hit closer to
dealt with a problem that hit closer to
dealt with a problem that hit closer to home an accident with a demons blood
home an accident with a demons blood
home an accident with a demons blood allows Buffy to hear the thoughts of
allows Buffy to hear the thoughts of
allows Buffy to hear the thoughts of others which leads her to uncover a
others which leads her to uncover a
others which leads her to uncover a potential school shooting Christian
potential school shooting Christian
potential school shooting Christian here’s the killer in the cafeteria the
here’s the killer in the cafeteria the
here’s the killer in the cafeteria the subject is always extremely sensitive in
subject is always extremely sensitive in
subject is always extremely sensitive in America but earshot was initially set to
America but earshot was initially set to
America but earshot was initially set to air shortly after the Columbine massacre
air shortly after the Columbine massacre
air shortly after the Columbine massacre despite the fact that the episode
despite the fact that the episode
despite the fact that the episode shooter only intended suicide and that
shooter only intended suicide and that
shooter only intended suicide and that the airing was delayed until nearly the
the airing was delayed until nearly the
the airing was delayed until nearly the next season it’s still drew complaints
next season it’s still drew complaints
next season it’s still drew complaints could we ever hurt anybody I came up
could we ever hurt anybody I came up
could we ever hurt anybody I came up here to kill myself number 5 unbowed
here to kill myself number 5 unbowed
here to kill myself number 5 unbowed unbent unbroken Game of Thrones this is
unbent unbroken Game of Thrones this is
unbent unbroken Game of Thrones this is my home
my home
my home you can’t pray to me controversy has
you can’t pray to me controversy has
you can’t pray to me controversy has been woven into Game of Thrones since
been woven into Game of Thrones since
been woven into Game of Thrones since day one but this episode ignited one of
day one but this episode ignited one of
day one but this episode ignited one of its biggest public outcry
its biggest public outcry
its biggest public outcry primarily for one scene despite the fact
primarily for one scene despite the fact
primarily for one scene despite the fact that the show infamously kills off fan
that the show infamously kills off fan
that the show infamously kills off fan favorite characters
favorite characters
favorite characters it was the rape of Sansa Stark by her
it was the rape of Sansa Stark by her
it was the rape of Sansa Stark by her sadistic new husband Ramsay Bolton that
sadistic new husband Ramsay Bolton that
sadistic new husband Ramsay Bolton that had fans and critics outraged then he
had fans and critics outraged then he
had fans and critics outraged then he found the scene gratuitous even with the
found the scene gratuitous even with the
found the scene gratuitous even with the show’s history of depicting
show’s history of depicting
show’s history of depicting non-consensual sex
non-consensual sex
non-consensual sex [Music]
[Music]
[Music] in addition fans of the books objected
in addition fans of the books objected
in addition fans of the books objected to the scene as the rape and even
to the scene as the rape and even
to the scene as the rape and even Sansa’s marriage to Ramsey originally
Sansa’s marriage to Ramsey originally
Sansa’s marriage to Ramsey originally happened to an entirely different
happened to an entirely different
happened to an entirely different character in their view this change
character in their view this change
character in their view this change derailed her story arc and prior
derailed her story arc and prior
derailed her story arc and prior character development number 4 mods
character development number 4 mods
character development number 4 mods dilemma mod live in I’m pregnant
dilemma mod live in I’m pregnant
dilemma mod live in I’m pregnant given that it was a spinoff of the
given that it was a spinoff of the
given that it was a spinoff of the always confrontational all in the family
always confrontational all in the family
always confrontational all in the family mod was destined to deal with hot-button
mod was destined to deal with hot-button
mod was destined to deal with hot-button issues and this two-parter went right
issues and this two-parter went right
issues and this two-parter went right for the jugular a few things inspire as
for the jugular a few things inspire as
for the jugular a few things inspire as much debate as abortion made following
much debate as abortion made following
much debate as abortion made following the practices legalization in New York
the practices legalization in New York
the practices legalization in New York in real life mod a middle-aged woman
in real life mod a middle-aged woman
in real life mod a middle-aged woman finds herself pregnant and decides to
finds herself pregnant and decides to
finds herself pregnant and decides to have the procedure I think it would be
have the procedure I think it would be
have the procedure I think it would be wrong to have a child at our age oh so
wrong to have a child at our age oh so
wrong to have a child at our age oh so hot wolf oh well this saga why although
hot wolf oh well this saga why although
hot wolf oh well this saga why although the initial broadcasts drew little
the initial broadcasts drew little
the initial broadcasts drew little attention that changed when it was rerun
attention that changed when it was rerun
attention that changed when it was rerun after the landmark roe v– wade Supreme
after the landmark roe v– wade Supreme
after the landmark roe v– wade Supreme Court verdict
Court verdict
Court verdict this time it through huge viewing
this time it through huge viewing
this time it through huge viewing figures thanks in part to the publicity
figures thanks in part to the publicity
figures thanks in part to the publicity unintentionally generated by protesters
unintentionally generated by protesters
unintentionally generated by protesters oh we close number three home the
oh we close number three home the
oh we close number three home the x-files now we all have a natural
x-files now we all have a natural
x-files now we all have a natural instinct to propagate through it the
instinct to propagate through it the
instinct to propagate through it the truth is out there and it still gives
truth is out there and it still gives
truth is out there and it still gives viewers the creeps in part thanks to
viewers the creeps in part thanks to
viewers the creeps in part thanks to episodes like home set up like a slasher
episodes like home set up like a slasher
episodes like home set up like a slasher horror movie this episode saw Mulder and
horror movie this episode saw Mulder and
horror movie this episode saw Mulder and Scully investigating a murderous family
Scully investigating a murderous family
Scully investigating a murderous family so monstrous they make the Fluke man
so monstrous they make the Fluke man
so monstrous they make the Fluke man look cuddly the violence and subject
look cuddly the violence and subject
look cuddly the violence and subject matter which included rape incest and
matter which included rape incest and
matter which included rape incest and child murder were so graphic but it’s
child murder were so graphic but it’s
child murder were so graphic but it’s the only episode during the series run
the only episode during the series run
the only episode during the series run to receive a tv-ma rating and the only
to receive a tv-ma rating and the only
to receive a tv-ma rating and the only one never rebroadcast on Fox
one never rebroadcast on Fox
one never rebroadcast on Fox despite the controversy palm earned
despite the controversy palm earned
despite the controversy palm earned extensive critical acclaim and is
extensive critical acclaim and is
extensive critical acclaim and is typically considered one of the series
typically considered one of the series
typically considered one of the series finest episodes
number two the puppy episode Ellen Ellen
number two the puppy episode Ellen Ellen are you coming out or not yep it’s that
are you coming out or not yep it’s that
are you coming out or not yep it’s that episode lead character Ellen Morgan
episode lead character Ellen Morgan
episode lead character Ellen Morgan realizes she’s gay and opens up about it
realizes she’s gay and opens up about it
realizes she’s gay and opens up about it to others in the course of this
to others in the course of this
to others in the course of this two-parter in a case of art mirroring
two-parter in a case of art mirroring
two-parter in a case of art mirroring life Ellen DeGeneres came out of the
life Ellen DeGeneres came out of the
life Ellen DeGeneres came out of the closet nearly simultaneously with her
closet nearly simultaneously with her
closet nearly simultaneously with her character
character
character I’m gay although not out of the norm
I’m gay although not out of the norm
I’m gay although not out of the norm today this was groundbreaking in 1997
today this was groundbreaking in 1997
today this was groundbreaking in 1997 the episode was the subject of backlash
the episode was the subject of backlash
the episode was the subject of backlash even before it aired with sponsors
even before it aired with sponsors
even before it aired with sponsors pulling support right-wing groups
pulling support right-wing groups
pulling support right-wing groups expressing outrage in the studio even
expressing outrage in the studio even
expressing outrage in the studio even receiving a bomb threat what is that gay
receiving a bomb threat what is that gay
receiving a bomb threat what is that gay humor and I don’t get it I’m gay I am
humor and I don’t get it I’m gay I am
humor and I don’t get it I’m gay I am its legacy is much more uplifting
its legacy is much more uplifting
its legacy is much more uplifting however as Ellen’s coming out episode
however as Ellen’s coming out episode
however as Ellen’s coming out episode was a hugely seminal moment in advancing
was a hugely seminal moment in advancing
was a hugely seminal moment in advancing gay representation on television it was
gay representation on television it was
gay representation on television it was the hardest thing that I ever had to do
the hardest thing that I ever had to do
the hardest thing that I ever had to do in my life and I would not change one
in my life and I would not change one
in my life and I would not change one moment of it because it led me to be
moment of it because it led me to be
moment of it because it led me to be exactly where I am today standing in
exactly where I am today standing in
exactly where I am today standing in front of all of you before we get to our
front of all of you before we get to our
front of all of you before we get to our top pick here are some honorable
top pick here are some honorable
top pick here are some honorable mentions I got to show it to you so
mentions I got to show it to you so
mentions I got to show it to you so don’t strike matches okay
don’t strike matches okay
don’t strike matches okay I grew up in Honolulu they certainly
I grew up in Honolulu they certainly
I grew up in Honolulu they certainly weren’t people who were building bombs
weren’t people who were building bombs
weren’t people who were building bombs for a war the way King Friday thought
for a war the way King Friday thought
for a war the way King Friday thought they were
they were
they were [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number one the Puerto Rican Day Seinfeld
number one the Puerto Rican Day Seinfeld
number one the Puerto Rican Day Seinfeld no it’s the Puerto Rican Day Parade
no it’s the Puerto Rican Day Parade
no it’s the Puerto Rican Day Parade although the show about nothing tackled
although the show about nothing tackled
although the show about nothing tackled some provocative subjects during its run
some provocative subjects during its run
some provocative subjects during its run its most controversial episode was not
its most controversial episode was not
its most controversial episode was not intentionally provocative when Jerry and
intentionally provocative when Jerry and
intentionally provocative when Jerry and the gang are on their way home from a
the gang are on their way home from a
the gang are on their way home from a baseball game they are caught in traffic
baseball game they are caught in traffic
baseball game they are caught in traffic due to the Puerto Rican Day Parade in
due to the Puerto Rican Day Parade in
due to the Puerto Rican Day Parade in the course of the story
the course of the story
the course of the story Kramer accidentally sets the Puerto
Kramer accidentally sets the Puerto
Kramer accidentally sets the Puerto Rican flag on fire and stomps on it to
Rican flag on fire and stomps on it to
Rican flag on fire and stomps on it to put it out the guy fucking the Puerto
put it out the guy fucking the Puerto
put it out the guy fucking the Puerto Rican flag who pours burning the flag in
Rican flag who pours burning the flag in
Rican flag who pours burning the flag in addition the Puerto Ricans depicted in
addition the Puerto Ricans depicted in
addition the Puerto Ricans depicted in the episode are not shown in a favorable
the episode are not shown in a favorable
the episode are not shown in a favorable light and the territory itself is
light and the territory itself is
light and the territory itself is implied to be riot prone all of this
implied to be riot prone all of this
implied to be riot prone all of this prompted protests a formal apology and
prompted protests a formal apology and
prompted protests a formal apology and the episode being pulled from reruns for
the episode being pulled from reruns for
the episode being pulled from reruns for several years you know it’s like this
several years you know it’s like this
several years you know it’s like this every day in question do you agree with
every day in question do you agree with
every day in question do you agree with our picks check out these other great
our picks check out these other great
our picks check out these other great clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for
clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for
clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for new videos every day
new videos every day
new videos every day [Music]
”
Be First to Comment