30 Shocking Kids Show Scandals
30 Shocking Kids Show Scandals
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, were looking at the most appalling and shocking scandals to ever plague our favorite kids shows.
Stunt Negligence
iCarly (2007-12)
In the episode iGet Pranky, there is a scene where Carly, Freddie, and Sam go to leave before reminding themselves to get Gibby to leave with them. Gibby suddenly falls from the ceiling in a way you would only expect from Gibby. Unfortunately, the bit was far from hilarious years after airing. According to Gibbys actor, Noah Munck, the stuntwoman posing as his character, Katina Waters, suffered from serious injuries during filming. Turns out that Waters was not wearing enough safety equipment, and the person in charge of lowering her did not do so at the speed it was practiced. Waters would later sue Nickelodeon, MTV Networks, and Schneiders Bakery, iCarlys production house, in 2014.
Total Derailment
Childrens Hour (1922-64)
In 1953, BBCs Childrens Hour broadcast its own adaptation of The Sad Story of Henry, infuriating the books original author, Reverend Wilbert Awdry. One shot showed Henrys model go off the rails, and even a hand placing Henry back onto the track before resuming the show. Awdry wrote a scathing letter to the BBC, threatening to pull the rights from them should a mistake like this occur again. The letter made national headlines across the UK, even getting BBCs Head of Programmes involved. To think all of this outrage occurred over a toy trains unexpected derailment on live television. As Murphys Law states: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
The Ranger Walkout
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-95)
Considering the immense popularity of the Power Rangers, one would hope that the cast and crew would be well taken care of. Sadly, that was not the case for the original '90s show, at least the one that aired in the U.S. In the middle of Season Twos production, Austin St. John, Walter Emmanuel Jones, and Thuy Trang, who played the Red, Black, and Yellow Rangers, respectively, left the show due to the awful working conditions. Because the show was a non-union production, the cast and crew were expected to work long hours for very little pay with no royalties. As St. John would clarify in 2014, I could have worked the window at McDonald's and probably made the same money the first season.
Katy Perrys Appearance
Sesame Street (1969-)
Sesame Street has featured a wide selection of celebrity appearances since its 1969 debut. Some have been fairly controversial, but when Katy Perry was set to appear in Season 41, it seemed as if Sesame Street was suddenly a not-so-friendly street. Parents were furious by Perrys revealing attire and put Sesame Street on blast across the internet. Sesame Workshop released a statement acknowledging the backlash and that the segment would not be featured in the proper show, but Katy Perry fans will still be able to view the video on YouTube. At the time of this video, the segment does not seem to be available on Sesame Streets YouTube channel, only living on through reuploads.
Jamie Lynn Spears Pregnancy
Zoey 101 (2005-08)
For a time, it seemed as if Jamie Lynn Spears was about to begin her own path to stardom while big sister Britney dominated the music scene. However, everything took a turn for the worse when Zoey 101 suddenly got canceled. In a 2007 interview with OK! Magazine, Spears, who was still a minor at the time of the interview, revealed that she was three months pregnant. Parents and news outlets were swift in voicing their outrage and concerns, deeming Spears a bad influence on their children. Nickelodeon would clarify that the fourth season had finished production prior to Spearss pregnancy before revealing that Season Four would be Zoey 101s final season.
Post-Show Woes
Barney & Friends (1992-2010)
Barney & Friends has been forever stained by some uncomfortable, sometimes disturbing details involving performers and even creator Sheryl Leachs family. For starters, one of Barneys performers, David Joyner, was outed as a tantric massage therapist (if you know, you know). Then, Sheryl Leach found her name being dragged through the mud as news outlets reported on her son, Patrick, firing a gun at their neighbor in 2013. Details have spread here and there over the years about turmoil within the Leach family, much of it involving Barneys inception as well. Combine all of that with the weirdly intense hatred towards the purple dinosaur, this is a show many are hesitant to associate with.
Everything to Do With John Kricfalusi
The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-96)
While Ren and Stimpy continue to have adoring fans from the early Nickelodeon years, their history has a disturbing shadow that may never be shaken off. In 2018, creator John Kricfalusi was exposed for having inappropriate relationships with Robyn Byrd and Katie Rice, who had begun talking to Kricfalusi when they were teenagers. This prompted other veterans from within the animation industry to share their own disturbing stories about the Ren & Stimpy creator. Kricfalusi would apologize for his behavior, citing mental illnesses as the reason. However, he has been largely exiled from the industry. The chihuahua and cat may make a comeback, but Kricfalusi wont be coming along for the ride.
Not All That
All That (1994-2005, 2019-20)
Many unsettling stories about Nickelodeon shows have come out in recent years. Well get to the biggest soon, but one of the most shocking stories comes from former All That cast member Angelique Bates, who faced harassment from a fellow cast member and lead writer Dan Schneider. Bates has denied reports that her mother was also abusive, saying, It was Nickelodeon that verbally and emotionally abused me. According to the actress, she was even told by colleagues to stay quiet. It wasnt until the docuseries Quiet on Set exposed many dark situations Nick stars were subjected to that Bates became more vocal about her personal experiences.
Hams Arrest
Andi Mack (2017-19)
While Disney has been known for maintaining a seemingly spotless reputation, some uncomfortable events have occurred behind the scenes of its films and TV shows. Andi Mack is no exception. A 2018 article from Deadline reported that Stoney Westmoreland, who played Andis grandfather, Ham, had been arrested for planning to meet up with a minor whom he had met online. Disney almost immediately fired Westmoreland and even went so far as to edit his character out of all future episodes where he would have been featured. Andi Mack was already midway into its third and final season at the time of his arrest.
The New Teenage Dora
Dora the Explorer (2000-19)
In an effort to grow up with the audience, Nickelodeon and Mattel put Dora through a massive redesign as she went from a small child into a tween. In 2009, the two companies revealed upcoming shows and merchandising with this new Dora, a tween girl sporting long purple jeans, a pink top with orange trim, and a gold necklace. Some parents grew angry over this redesign, claiming that Nickelodeon and Mattel had turned Dora from a tomboy into something much more promiscuous. Regardless, the companies stood by the redesign, claiming that Dora had not changed from her innocent origins.
Peer Pressure & Drunk Driving
Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-92)
Even for cartoon characters, the dangers of underage drinking are far too real. And Tiny Toon Adventures didnt shy away from any of it. Its bad enough showing Buster, Plucky, and Hamton sipping on a beer. But its even worse seeing them get trashed, steal a cop car, and then drive into the aptly-named Death Mountain. Suffice it to say, it went a bit too far for a children's-oriented program. In the end, the only thing this PSA accomplished was getting the entire episode banned for over twenty years. Nowadays, the segment is readily accessible on streaming and DVD releases. That doesnt make it any more appealing, though.
Prejudice Against Tinky Winky
Teletubbies (1997-2001)
Certain groups out there will go to any lengths to prevent what they perceive as gay advocacy from appearing on television. Unfortunately, back in 1999, the Teletubbies came under their scope. Controversy arose when the conservative activist Jerry Falwell alleged that the purple character Tinky Winky was a covert gay role model. The reason for this is because, while the character is assumed to be male, he carries around what looks like a womans handbag. The BBC and the production company behind Teletubbies clarified that it was simply a magic bag, and Tinky Winky wasnt gay or straight, simply a character in a childrens series.
Bob the Builder Drops the F-Bomb?
Bob the Builder (1998-2011)
You know whenever you think you hear something, but it sounds like something else? Well, thats precisely what happened to this British, hard hat-wearing staple of childrens stop motion animation. During the Season 2 episode Wallpaper Wendy, Bob the Builder attempts to decorate the inside of a house to mixed results. During this segment, Bob mumbles as he struggles with the task. These mumbles resulted in some parents claiming to hear the frustrated builder swearing. While it was stated that this mumbling was simply being misinterpreted, the obscure lines were muted for later broadcasts.
Kermit Gets Fired
The Muppets franchise (1955-)
Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the others are about as unproblematic as you can get. But, the puppeteers behind them are a different story. For 27 years, Steve Whitmire continued The Muppets legacy as the performer of several iconic characters. Most famously, Kermit himself. However, parent company Disney alleged that many of those years were filled with outrageous demands and unacceptable workmanship. It reached a tipping point in late 2016 when Whitmire was terminated from The Muppets altogether. He didnt go quietly, though. Whitmire vehemently refuted Disneys story and claimed he was let go over union disagreements and other minor gripes. No matter which side is true, odds are Whitmire wont be returning to Kermit any time soon.
Scary Spiders
Peppa Pig (2004-)
Like most kids her age, Peppa is frightened of arachnids. But, with some help from George, she ends the episode Mister Skinnylegs thinking they arent so bad. Its a nice message and all; the issue is that some spiders are feared for very good reasons. For example, in Australia, where theres a whole bunch of creepy crawlies carrying lethal venom. There, the episode drew significant controversy for minimizing the threat of spiders, especially among young, impressionable kids. Eventually, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation deemed the episode inappropriate and completely banned it from the country. Apparently, they agreed that spiders are to be feared, after all.
Adoption Jokes
You Can't Do That on Television (1979-90)
Ironically, this shows title is exactly what some viewers said about a few of its tasteless jokes. In the episode bluntly titled Adoption, several sketches made very questionable gags at the expense of orphans and foster care. In particular, one scene featured a politician adopting a kid, using him to do chores, and then trying to return him to the orphanage. Instead of playful, the whole thing came across as mean-spirited and out-of-touch. So, its no surprise that, reportedly, Adoption only aired twice before being yanked off American airwaves indefinitely. Years later, even one of the shows creators admitted that these jokes crossed a line.
Homophobia
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-95)
In most episodes, these spandex-clad heroes fought the bad guys, learned a lesson, and saved the day. However, behind the scenes, one of them was fighting a very different kind of battle. In the years since his departure from the series, original Blue Ranger David Yost has revealed that he faced intense homophobia on the set of the hit 90s program. Eventually, the constant ridicule forced Yost to exit the show without even filming a goodbye. Instead, Power Rangers used archival recordings and a ham-fisted aging plotline to write Billy out without his actor. Knowing all that Yost endured makes revisiting the franchises early days much more difficult.
A Different Kind of Street
Sesame Street (1969-)
On October 16th, 2011, Elmo and the others woke up to some very unwelcome guests in their neck of the woods. Someone had hacked Sesame Streets official YouTube page and replaced the kid-friendly content with videos for a much, much older audience. And thats putting it lightly. Before you ask, no, apparently none of them included Sesame Street characters. The only silver lining is that the lewd content was presumably only live for around twenty minutes. Afterward, the channel was taken down and later reverted back to the rightful owners. Thankfully, Sesame Streets YouTube page has stayed safe for all ages ever since.
LGBTQ+ Content
Arthur franchise (1996-)
On two separate occasions, this classic cartoon went out of its way to normalize same-sex couples. The first instance occurred in 2005 when the spinoff Postcards from Buster came under fire for depicting children with two mothers. Even though there was no use of the word lesbian, it was still banned from several American television stations. The flagship series faced similar resistance in 2019 when Mr. Ratburn married another man. Once again, there were little-to-no overt references to the same-sex aspects of the storyline. But, sadly, that didnt stop the state of Alabama from refusing to air the episode altogether.
Canceled Creator
The Loud House (2016-)
In the middle of its highly-rated second season, this show made some noise for all the wrong reasons. The series creator, Chris Savino, was abruptly terminated from Nickelodeon following several long-standing sexual misconduct allegations. A week later, Savino owned up to his actions and expressed regret over how he handled the situation. Since The Loud House was based on the experiences of its creator, many were skeptical about how it would continue without him. Luckily, the show bounced back from this PR disaster with more laughs than ever before. Even without Savino, The Loud House has continued to thrive.
War & Conflict
Mister Rogers Neighborhood (1968-2001)
Its somewhat poetic that an arc named Conflict so thoroughly lived up to its name. It all started in 1983 when Mister Rogers Neighborhood spent a whole weeks worth of episodes discussing the realities of war, death, and violence. To be fair, the show was no stranger to tackling difficult subject matter. But, this frank examination of the current political climate was simply too much for some. Conflict aired for the last time in 1996, and since then, its been left out of just about every official release of the show. If it werent for fans spearheading a restoration effort, theres a chance these controversial episodes would have been lost to time.
Identity Panic
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-)
Who lives in a pineapple under the Sea? SpongeBob Squarepants! And who is also supposedly a secret gay advocate? Potentially everyones favorite underwater sponge! In 2005, a wide range of popular childrens shows collaborated for a charity music video. Sponsored by the We Are Family Foundation, it sought to promote diversity and tolerance in the spirit of Sister Sledges We Are Family. Cool, right? But, no, upon its release, conservative religious groups attacked the organization. While series creator Stephen Hillenburg had denied that Spongebob was gay years earlier, he stated that he considered the character somewhat asexual. So much for a faux-morality panic.
Controversial Tweets
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012-17)
Whenever youre an actor for a childrens show, there is a common expectation that youll have a somewhat tame public image. However, it seems that Jason Biggs, who played Leonardo in TMNT, didnt get the memo. The actor shared his thoughts on Twitter about the Republican National Convention and the private parts of Ann Romney, Paul Ryan, and Janna Little. Nickelodeon quickly apologized for the comments, and the incident led to Jason being replaced on the show from Season 2 onwards.
Potential Islamophobia
Fireman Sam (1987-)
Childrens cartoons are mostly expected to contain lessons about moral and societal values. But this incident may make you consider if Fireman Sam was secretly preaching intolerance. This episode of the British animated cartoon first aired in 2014, but the error only came to light in 2016. One of the characters enters a room and slips on some papers, one of which looks like a page from the Qur'an. Mattel came out saying it was an unfortunate error when a member of the production company thought they were putting scribbles on a page. Despite the apology, people were up in arms about it on social media.
Censored Dance
Steven Universe (2013-19)
In a show that includes a lot of LGBTQ+ themes, you would think that the network that commissioned it would want to maintain that vision around the world. Apparently not in the United Kingdom. During the episode We Need to Talk, the characters Rose Quartz and Pearl dance romantically with each other. If you saw this in the US, you wouldve gotten the whole dance, including a moment where the two are very close to each other. But if you saw it in the UK, you instead wouldve gotten some alternative close-ups omitting that small segment. Fans were outraged, but Cartoon Network stood by their decision, saying that it was in line with the UK rating system.
Host Troubles
Blue Peter (1958-)
When a show is framed as family-friendly, the cast and crew are under a lot of scrutiny. This is the case for Blue Peter, the longest-running childrens TV series globally, which has had its fair share of hiccups. In 2007, a Blue Peter editor was fired after the show rigged a cat naming contest. But this was far from the most troublesome issue. One of the most notable involved former presenter Richard Bacon, leading up to Blue Peters 40th anniversary in the late 90s. Tabloids revealed that Bacon reportedly did cocaine during his tenure on the show. This revelation sparked media outrage, prompting a response from the Head of Childrens Programming at the BBC, resulting in him being let go from the program.
Flashing Images Cause Mass Mania
Pokémon (1997-)
When companies translate a foreign cartoon to English, sometimes they choose to censor certain bits, like a particularly infamous joke during a beach episode in this shows Season 1. Unfortunately, something got left in another time. During the Pokemon episode: Denn Senshi Porygon, Ash and the gang get stuck inside a machine and have to fight Team Rocket and Porygon. Towards the end, an explosion animation featured red and blue flashes happening in quick succession, which triggered seizures in children with epilepsy. And then the news of it reportedly created mass hysteria. It of course wasnt the intention of Japanese animators to harm anyone - and us either, which is why were not going to show the scene in question - but the episode was understandably pulled from broadcast.
Dan Schneiders Legacy
Various
In 2018, Nickelodeon parted ways with one of their most prolific creators of all time. But, despite his resume, odds are Dan Schneider will only be remembered for the mountain of allegations levied against him. While Nickelodeons firing only explicitly cited his quick temper, many insiders have come out accusing Schneider of repeated sexual harassment. This included former iCarly star, Jennette McCurdy, who spent a section of her memoir detailing her harrowing experiences with someone only referred to as The Creator. Given the extent of the charges, many fans have also pointed to scenes in Schneiders work that have not aged well at all. As a result, its unlikely Schneider, or his legacy, will ever recover.
Elmo Actor Allegations
Sesame Street (1969-)
Sesame Street cant seem to get a break when it comes to controversies. In one instance, a controversy arose over celebrity guest Katy Perrys dress during a music video, causing the segment to be removed. Then theres the already mentioned hacking of their YouTube channel. All parents really want is to make sure that their children are safe watching these shows, so when dangerous claims are made, it can cause panic. Kevin Clash, the actor behind the popular Sesame Street character Elmo, had several extremely serious allegations of sexual impropriety leveled against him in 2012. These claims garnered a lot of media attention, and despite the accusations eventually being legally dismissed, Clash left the series.
Terrible Reality
Kid Nation (2007)
There are reasons why there are stringent laws and regulations regarding children working in the film and television industry. Sure, it might make for exciting programming, but the aim isnt to scar them for life! The cash-prize reality show Kid Nation sent a group of 40 children of various ages into the desert, challenging them to create a functioning society. The crew was informed to be as little involved as possible, allowing these vulnerable kids to experience genuinely distressing events. The disturbing premise resembles Willam Goldings novel Lord of the Flies, and audiences agreed. Unfortunately, the parents were apparently poorly informed regarding what was involved, and the backlash meant it only lasted one season.
Can you think of any other scandals? Let us know in the comments.
