1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer — “Earshot”
“Earshot” was supposed to air in April 1999, just days after the tragic Columbine High School shooting. The episode saw Buffy gaining the ability to hear people’s thoughts — including one student who was contemplating a violent act at school. Even though the storyline ultimately revealed the student wasn’t planning a massacre, it hit way too close to home for viewers and network executives alike says CBR.
The WB quickly yanked the episode from the schedule out of sensitivity to the tragedy. It didn’t resurface until months later, when emotions had settled. Fans were disappointed but understood why it had to be delayed. And when it finally aired, it was met with a different kind of appreciation — for its raw, emotional handling of mental health in teens adds Screen Rant.
2. Seinfeld — “The Puerto Rican Day”
This season nine episode caused immediate controversy when it aired in 1998. During a scene where Kramer accidentally sets fire to a Puerto Rican flag and then stomps on it to try and put it out, many viewers — particularly within the Puerto Rican community — felt deeply offended shares SlashFilm.
Protests erupted, and NBC issued a formal apology. They pulled the episode from reruns for several years, and it wasn’t included in syndication packages for a long time. Eventually, it made its way back into circulation, but only after emotions cooled. Jerry Seinfeld later defended the episode, saying it was never meant to be hateful, just silly and outrageous like everything else on the show adds Collider.
3. Family Guy — “Partial Terms of Endearment”
Fox flat-out refused to air this 2010 episode in the United States due to its extremely controversial subject matter: abortion. In the episode, Lois agrees to become a surrogate for an old friend, only to face a heartbreaking decision when the couple dies and she’s left pregnant and alone.
Even by Family Guy standards, it was edgy. Fox determined it was just too risky and shelved it entirely. The episode eventually found a home on DVD and in the UK, where censorship is a little looser. Seth MacFarlane wasn’t surprised by the reaction but stood by the story, saying he wanted to explore the topic in his usual irreverent style.
4. The X-Files — “Home”
If you’ve ever seen this episode, you already know why it only aired once initially. “Home” featured a grotesque story about an inbred family keeping their limbless mother under the bed. It was deeply disturbing, even by X-Files standards, and left viewers shocked and horrified.
Fox agreed it went too far and banned it from reruns for several years. But fans couldn’t stop talking about it — in part because of how effectively creepy it was. Eventually, the network caved and allowed it back on air, and it’s now considered one of the most memorable X-Files episodes ever made.
5. Boy Meets World — “Prom-ises, Prom-ises”
This sweet little ‘90s sitcom usually kept things light, but one episode struck a nerve. In “Prom-ises, Prom-ises,” Cory and Topanga debate whether they should take their relationship to the next level on prom night. Even though the episode handled the subject of “explicit teen engagements” with sensitivity and realism, Disney Channel — which often aired reruns — wasn’t having it.
They decided to pull the episode from syndication, saying it didn’t fit their family-friendly image. Fans were disappointed because the storyline had sparked important conversations about growing up, relationships, and responsibility. These days, it’s available on streaming platforms again, and viewers tend to appreciate how it navigated a tricky topic without being preachy.
6. The Simpsons — “Stark Raving Dad”
This season three premiere is one of the most famous episodes of The Simpsons — or at least, it used to be. Michael Jackson voiced a character named Leon Kompowsky, a man in a mental institution who believed he was Michael Jackson. For years, the episode was beloved by fans as a quirky, heartfelt story with a fun celebrity cameo.
But after the 2019 release of the documentary Leaving Neverland, which detailed disturbing allegations against Jackson, the producers made a tough call. They pulled the episode from circulation entirely, removing it from streaming platforms and DVD collections. Matt Groening said it was heartbreaking to erase it, but they felt it was the right thing to do. Even now, the episode remains officially unavailable.
7. Sesame Street — Episode 847 with Margaret Hamilton
Back in 1976, Sesame Street invited Margaret Hamilton to reprise her iconic role as the Wicked Witch of the West. It seemed like a fun idea at the time — teaching kids that even scary characters could learn lessons about kindness and sharing. But when the episode aired, it had the opposite effect.
Hundreds of parents wrote in, furious that their children had been terrified by the witch. The show’s producers decided not to air the episode again, and it disappeared into the vaults. For decades, it became the stuff of legend until it finally resurfaced in 2022 thanks to a release by the American Archive of Public Broadcasting. Still, it’s a reminder that even a kids’ show can misjudge its audience.
8. Married… with Children — “I’ll See You in Court”
This raunchy sitcom was no stranger to controversy, but one episode from 1989 was deemed too much, even for Fox. In “I’ll See You in Court,” the Bundys accidentally stumble upon an explicit tape involving themselves and end up suing a motel. The episode dealt openly with issues of privacy, infidelity, and explicit behavior — but without much subtlety.
Fox was worried about backlash and pulled the episode before it even aired. It was dubbed the “lost episode” for years until it finally aired on cable in 2002. When it did, viewers mostly shrugged, having seen far worse on TV by then. Still, it remains a fascinating example of how much standards have shifted over time.
9. South Park — “201”
When South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone tried to include the Prophet Muhammad in this follow-up to their 200th episode, things got real. The episode was meant to be a bold statement about censorship and satire, but it sparked serious threats from extremist groups. Comedy Central blurred out the Prophet and censored entire portions of the episode before airing it.
Afterward, they pulled the episode entirely from streaming, reruns, and DVD. Fans were furious, but the network said it wasn’t worth the risk. Parker and Stone stood by their work but admitted they had never seen that level of censorship before. To this day, “201” remains one of the most heavily restricted episodes in South Park history.
10. Tiny Toon Adventures — “One Beer”
This animated episode from the early ‘90s had Buster, Plucky, and Hampton experimenting with alcohol in a very over-the-top, dark comedy way. What started as a silly parody ended with the characters stealing a car and driving off a cliff. It was meant to be a cautionary tale, but the tone confused a lot of viewers — especially kids.
Fox only aired it once before pulling it, citing its mixed messaging. Parents weren’t happy, saying it glamorized drinking despite its intended moral. Warner Bros. later included it on a DVD release as a curiosity piece, but it still feels jarring even by today’s standards. For a kid’s show, it definitely crossed some lines.
11. Hannibal — “Oeuf”
This beautifully shot yet deeply disturbing episode dealt with a group of brainwashed children being trained to kill their own families. Even though it wasn’t graphic by Hannibal standards, NBC felt the themes were just too upsetting. The decision came right after a spate of real-life tragedies involving children and violence, and the timing couldn’t have been worse.
Rather than air the episode, NBC released parts of it online as webisodes to continue the storyline. Fans appreciated the thoughtful approach, and creator Bryan Fuller supported the decision. It wasn’t about censorship, he said — it was about being responsible. And in hindsight, it was the right move.
12. Powerpuff Girls — “See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey”
You might not expect a Powerpuff Girls episode to stir up political controversy, but this one did. The episode featured a villainous gnome who sings about overthrowing the government and redistributing power. There were strong visual references to socialism, communism, and even some religious imagery that made networks uncomfortable.
Cartoon Network aired it in other countries but not in the U.S. due to concerns over the political themes. Fans who had heard about it online were eager to see it, and it eventually showed up on DVD. While it’s not especially shocking by adult standards, it was deemed inappropriate for a children’s audience at the time. Even today, it stands out as one of the show’s boldest swings.
13. Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood — “Conflict” Series
In 1983, Mr. Rogers aired a five-episode arc called the “Conflict” series, tackling the frightening topic of nuclear war. He wanted to help children understand what was happening during the Cold War in a way that didn’t sugarcoat the fear many families felt. It was thoughtful and educational — but also incredibly intense.
Parents and networks later agreed that the content might have been too heavy for young viewers. The episodes were quietly pulled from syndication and remained mostly hidden for decades. When they resurfaced, many adults praised Rogers’ bravery in addressing such a scary topic. But at the time, it was simply too much for the show’s usual tone.