Family Guy is an animated comedy TV series that has earned its spot among giants of the genre, such as The Simpsons and South Park. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the show first premiered in 1999 and is known for its unapologetic humor, pop culture references, and cutaway gags. It follows the lives of the dysfunctional Griffin family in the fictional town of Quahog. Despite its initial cancelation in 2002, fan demand led to its revival, and the series has since become a cultural phenomenon.
However, the show has also often found itself at the edge of viewers' tolerance. In this article, we'll explore some of the most boundary-pushing episodes that landed the creators in hot waters over the years.
10 "The 2000-Year-Old Virgin"
In Season 13, Episode 6, the Griffin family discovers that Jesus Christ (voiced by MacFarlane) is still a virgin. Peter, determined to help Jesus experience intimacy, takes him to a local bar for a night out. He then lets Jesus sleep with his wife, Lois, only to eventually learn that this is a trick Jesus pulls on weak-minded men to get himself laid.
By addressing religious themes in a humorous and often sacrilegious manner, "The 2000-Year-Old Virgin" sparked debate among believers and non-believers, with some finding it disrespectful and others appreciating its irreverent approach. The creators of Family Guy love to push the boundaries when it comes to jokes about religion, but for many people, this one stepped over the holy line.
9 "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein"
In "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" (Episode 22 of Season 3), Peter goes out of his way to find a Jewish person to help him manage his finances. When he befriends Max Weinstein, he eventually converts Chris to Judaism, thinking he'll automatically make it in life by being Jewish.
Back in 2000, Fox decided not to air the episode, fearing severe audience backlash and accusations of antisemitism. As a result, the episode only saw the day of light three years later on DVD. Music Publisher Bourne Co. also tried to sue Fox for using the phrase "I Need a Jew", claiming that the lyrics were offensive and stolen from a popular song named When You Wish Upon a Star. Eventually, the creators of Family Guy won the lawsuit as it was ruled that they" did not infringe copyright when they transformed the song", according to Reuters.
8 "The Simpsons Guy"
In "The Simpsons Guy," a crossover episode of The Simpsons and Family Guy (Season 13, Episode 1), the Griffins find themselves having to leave their town as a consequence of Peter writing a misogynistic comic strip. After their car is stolen, they end up in Springfield, where they make friends with the Simpsons family.
The episode was under scrutiny mostly due to a controversial joke involving the line "your sister's being raped." The joke appears in a scene where Bart Simpson teaches Stewie Griffin about prank phone calls. The controversial punchline sparked debates, with the advocacy group Parents Television Council and other organizations expressing concern. Tim Winter, the Council's president, found the joke troubling, citing its potential impact on perceptions of sexual assault, as per CBS News.
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7 "Quagmire's Dad"
Quagmire, a beloved character in Family Guy, receives limited focus in an episode (Season 8, Episode 18) that mainly centers around Brian. As Brian leaves for a seminar, his absence goes unnoticed by his family. The story gains momentum with the introduction of Quagmire's father, Dan, who surprisingly reveals himself to be transsexual.
Brian's encounter with Ida leads to comedic vomiting and insensitive remarks, drawing criticism for its transphobic content. McFarlane defended "Quagmire's Dad" by saying that it was not meant to be offensive, adding that the "episode was written by Steve Callaghan, a writer on Family Guy, who had the same experience with his own parent — his father had transitioned to a woman — and he was writing, in many ways, from his own experience", as per Buzzfeed.
6 "Road to the North Pole"
In this one-hour-long Family Guy Christmas episode (Season 9, Episode 7), narrated by MacFarlane's father, Ron MacFarlane, and featuring guest voices of Carrie Fisher, Drew Barrymore, and David Boreanaz, the residents of Quahog are preparing for Christmas. Stewie's encounter with a rude Mall Santa prompts him to vow revenge by heading to the North Pole. Eventually, Brian and Stewie discover Santa's workshop, in dire conditions due to global demands and find themselves helping the North Pole crew make deliveries, leading to mishaps, injuries, and panic.
"Road to the North Pole" was criticized due to its dark depiction of Santa's workshop, featuring a gruesome industrial factory at the North Pole where deformed slave elves work until the end of their lives, after which they get eaten by his feral reindeer.
5 "Boys & Squirrels"
In Episode 3 of Season 19 ("Boys & Squirrels"), Peter acquires a chainsaw following a neighbor's suicide. He then starts using it but accidentally injures himself while trying to make a home for Keebler Elves. A fallen tree makes a young squirrel an orphan, and Chris and Stewie decide to raise together. Eventually, the squirrel recovers, and while they record its steps on video, Brian viciously attacks it and mauls it to death.
Unsurprisingly, this episode came as an unpleasant shock even to the most devoted fans of the show. However, it serves as a bitter reminder that large dogs, no matter how well-trained, have animal instincts, and one never knows when they might attack a smaller animal or even a helpless child.
4 "Turban Cowboy"
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After an accident in Las Vegas, Peter lands in a hospital, where he befriends a Muslim man named Mahmoud. After being introduced to Islamic Culture, Peter is invited to a get-together, which turns out to involve terrorists planning to blow up a bridge. As Peter becomes entangled, his friends suspect him of involvement. When the bombing plan accelerates, Peter realizes his mistakes and rushes to escape the exploding bridge.
"Turban Cowboy" (Episode 15 of Season 11), has been widely criticized for its numerous insensitive jokes about Muslims and their culture. To make things worse, the episode, which included a cutaway gag involving Peter running over a crowd during the Boston Marathon, aired close to the actual Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
3 "Con Heiress"
In "Con Heiress" (Season 17, Episode 8), Stewie finds out that Brian has been having relationships with wealthy older women and decides to join him. They compete for the affections of a wealthy heiress, unaware that her elderly husband is actually Quagmire, who, tired of his wife, proposes they help her in dying for a cut of her fortune. When she seemingly passes away from a heart attack, Quagmire credits them, giving them a share of the inheritance. However, they soon find out she is deeply in debt, making them responsible.
Con Hairess received backlash mainly for its references to pedophilia, which the family’s elderly neighbor Herbert is usually involved in. In this episode, Herbert mistakes Peter for a child, which surprisingly makes Chris jealous. Eventually, Peter and Chris get into an argument over the old man’s attention. Needless to say, this caused some audiences extreme discomfort.
2 "Partial Terms of Endearment"
In "Partial Terms of Endearment," the eleventh episode from Season 8, Lois agrees to be a surrogate for a childless couple. After the couple's tragic death post in vitro fertilization, Lois and Peter contemplate abortion based on Brian's advice. As Lois nears a decision, Peter watches a convincing anti-abortion video that alters his perspective. He stops Lois from undergoing the procedure, leading to a night of discussion. Despite their deliberations, Lois ultimately chooses to proceed with the abortion.
The episode’s contentious theme caused it to be pulled from TV and now cannot be found on channels hosting the show, such as Disney+. In fact, season eight DVDs are the only place where this particular episode is sure to be found.
1 "Life of Brian"
Season 12, Episode 6 brought one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show's history. Brian tragically dies after being hit by a car. Stewie, blaming himself and his time machine, tries to rebuild it to save Brian but faces obstacles due to a connection being killed for drawing the prophet Muhammad. Brian's death prompts the family to adopt a new dog named Vinny, who was unable to fill the void in the hearts of fans, to say the least.
Life of Brian was criticized by fans worldwide for killing off one of the most beloved characters in the show totally unexpectedly and for no apparent reason. Could this have been karma for Brian killing the squirrel in Boys & Squirrels? Maybe. During an old interview, MacFarlane said that "Life of Brian" "reminded people this is still a show where anything can happen despite the fact it's been on for a while.", adding that the creators were "all very surprised, in a good way, that people still cared enough about that character to be that angry," and that they "thought it would create a little bit of a stir, but the rage wasn't something we counted on", as per Business Insider.
