Top 10 BANNED Simpsons Episodes

What could possibly go wrong on a little ski trip? Turns out, the answer is a lot. Marge breaks a leg, Flanders gets an iconic skiing scene, and Lisa’s left in charge of the house. But, it’s only that last point that proved contentious. In order to motivate Bart and Homer to clean up after themselves, Lisa convinces them they’ve contracted leprosy. Although it’s all a ruse, the implication was still enough to get the whole story barred from Japan, where the bacterial infection is a very sensitive topic. It’s a shame; Japanese viewers have no legal way to watch Flanders ski down the mountain in his skin-tight outfit.

As you can imagine, light-hearted chat about historical dictators is bound to stir up some controversy. But, you can’t even blame the Simpsons family for this one - this is all Lenny and Carl. During an innocuous bar scene, they make a sly reference to the supposed leader of Argentina’s Dirty War, where as many as 30,000 left-wing citizens mysteriously vanished. The tasteless reminder of such a tragedy did not sit well with Argentinian viewers. Especially since “The Simpsons” minimizes the situation with a poorly-timed gag about Madonna. After fielding complaints from viewers, committees, and even the Argentinian government, Fox personally pulled the episode from several hispanic countries.

Within its first thirty-five years on the air, only two episodes of “The Simpsons” never played in Japan. The first is the aforementioned “Little Big Mom.” Three guesses what the second one is. During a family trip abroad, Homer is, well, Homer, which means he isn’t exactly respectful of Japanese culture. Or certain pocket-monster related controversies. All together, it was enough to give “Thirty Minutes over Tokyo” the quick ban-hammer in its namesake capital. What’s more, the very inclusion of Japanese culture got it rejected from South Korea, too. It’s almost funny that when the Simpsons go out of the country, their show can’t follow.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Or, in this case, medical marijuana. While it’s not too surprising to learn that “The Simpsons” has tackled substance use, it’s not something you see on most primetime network shows. Still, the original U.S. airing didn’t kick up any dust. Or, at least, no more than usual. It’s debut in the United Kingdom, though? That’s a different story. Due to the intense and heavy-handed use of controlled substances, the episode joined an elite group of “Simpsons” installments that are banned from airing before 9:00 PM. Hey, at least people can still see it at all.

When Disney+ launched in Hong Kong in 2021, “The Simpsons” came with it. Well, mostly. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed that “Goo Goo Gai Pan” was casually skipped over in listings from the sixteenth season. It doesn’t take Lisa’s brains to figure out why. In the episode, the Simpsons, Selma, and her newly-adopted daughter pass through Tiananmen square, and even confront a tank. It’s a blunt reference with little gray area, and as you can imagine, it didn’t sit well with certain audiences. Let’s just say neither Hong Kong or China overall will be seeing “Goo Goo Gai Pan” on Disney+ any time soon.

Another family trip abroad, another place “The Simpsons” didn't air. This time, it’s Rio de Janeiro. Or, rather, a version of it. In the world of “The Simpsons,” it’s a crime-ridden slum full of thick Spanish accents, oversized mustaches, and culturally appropriated dances. It’s not exactly a glowing endorsement. In fact, Rio’s tourism board was so upset, they considered legal action against the show. The episode got yanked off airwaves soon after its debut, and while it returned once the controversy cooled off, it’s saying something that “The Simpsons” almost ended up in court. Suffice it to say, the show has been much more careful with its depiction of Brazil ever since.

Get ready; this one’s a real “thriller.” For almost twenty years, “Stark Raving Dad” was just another mildly scandalous episode of “The Simpsons.” But, if you didn’t catch it then, you might be out of luck. The story doesn’t sound so bad at first; Homer’s sent to a mental institution and has to prove he’s sane. The catch? His roommate is someone claiming to be Michael Jackson, voiced by the musician himself. In 2019, the documentary “Leaving Neverland” reignited conversation about the very serious allegations against the popstar. In the face of growing backlash, “The Simpsons” had no choice but to scrub “Stark Raving Dad” from all reruns and streaming sites.

One of the very best episodes of “The Simpsons” is also one of its darkest. But, it’s not the violence or peril that got it banished from Germany - though it probably didn’t help. No, the real kicker comes when the announcer for a late-night show appears wearing Nazi memorabilia. Germany has strict laws forbidding superfluous use of Nazi imagery, and that kept “Cape Feare” from native viewers for years. The episode did eventually make its way to German T.V.s, but only after undergoing clever editing to hide the offending attire. Now, everyone can enjoy “Cape Feare” in all its hilarious, unhinged glory.

If there’s anyone in the entirety of animation that doesn’t deserve a firearm, it’s Homer Simpson. So, naturally, that’s exactly what happens in “The Cartridge Family.” He even joins a Gun Club, too, and it goes about as well as you’d expect. The flippant portrayal of firearm safety is the whole point. But, that didn’t make it an easier pill to swallow overseas. Definitely not in the United Kingdom. There, certain channels vetoed “The Cartridge Family” altogether, citing its over-the-top depiction of gun ownership. It took a few small revisions, but the episode has since been let out of the vault worldwide. Even so, we probably shouldn’t let Homer around any more guns.

“The Simpsons explore Manhattan” is a fantastic pitch for an episode. But, sadly, this one is remembered for something that has nothing to do with its quality. In response to the horrific events of 9/11, Fox decided to remove the Simpsons’ Manhattan adventures from all syndication. It took five whole years for the New York-based episode to see the light of day again, and even then, sections had to be re-edited or omitted entirely. The original cut of the episode is still out there. But, the family's callous jokes about New York strike a very different chord now than when they aired in 1997.


Which of these banned “Simpsons” episodes do you most want to see? Let us know in the comments below!