Top 10 TV Shows That Experienced Massive Backlash

When it debuted in 2008, HBO’s romantic horror series had all the makings of a hit - vampires, werewolves, and a juicy love triangle to tie it all together. But a successful seven season run wasn’t without scandal, mostly revolving around the abundant violence and sexual themes. An episode that saw Jason drugged and assaulted drew unfavorable reactions, as did Luke Grimes leaving the show due to his alleged discomfort in portraying a gay romance. But few moments left fans fuming as much as the finale, in which Sookie doesn’t end up with either member of the central love triangle, but instead, an unnamed man. From dubious social commentary, to behind-the-scenes concerns, to unsatisfying creative choices, this show ran the gamut of fan backlash.

Over the years, MTV has developed an impressive resume in the scandalous realm of reality TV, but this rural series was a misfire on all fronts. While it scored high ratings, frustration about the stereotypical portrayal of country life only grew as the episodes rolled out. Despite upset fans and a troubled production involving the arrest of several cast members for possession and driving under the influence, MTV stuck to their guns and ordered a second season. But after the tragic passing of star Shain Gandee, the teen-centric network abruptly canceled the series, despite it already being in production of new episodes. It may have garnered strong viewership, but in the end, it’s hard to believe it was worth the headache.

Beyond complex storylines and a deep exploration of morality, what really put this teen sci-fi series on the map was its groundbreaking portrayal of an LGBTQ+ relationship between warring faction leaders Clarke and Lexa. It’s one of television’s most interesting romantic pairings, not just for its breakthrough in representation for the sci-fi genre, but also for its compelling examination of love versus duty. However, when Lexa was unceremoniously killed by a stray bullet, many accused the show of erasing its innovative portrait of sexuality by indulging in the harmful “Bury Your Gays” trope. Lexa’s abrupt exit left fans resentful and disappointed, so while Clarke got a more satisfying goodbye in the finale, it was a hollow gesture compared to what the series could have accomplished.

A&E’s reality series chronicling the rise of the titular hate group never made it to air, and that’s probably for the best. Despite the network’s insistence the series would not be a platform for hostility, but rather a commentary on the organization’s modern prevalence, there was no excuse when it came to light many of the cast were paid for their appearance. Since the money funneled into the production was actively benefiting the hate group, fans and critics alike clamored for its cancellation long before it even aired. An attempt at renaming it to “Escaping the KKK” did little to quell the outrage, and eventually, A&E pulled the plug on the series entirely.

Despite positive reviews and impressive ratings, this Dustin Hoffman-led series about competitive horseback riding couldn’t escape behind-the-scenes complications. In the first season alone, the show faced scrutiny after two horses were euthanized due to onset accidents. More precautions failed to prevent future injuries, and after another horse had to be put down, the series’ second season halted production to give time for an internal investigation. Mounting pressure from both fans and animal outreach organizations continued to build until HBO had no choice but to axe the show altogether, leaving the episode and a half already filmed for season two lost for good. For the sake of the horses, we only wish HBO had come to this conclusion a little sooner.

It takes a certain kind of show to get canceled after just one episode, and yet we wonder how this series even made it that far. A satirical take on 20th-century sitcoms, this tasteless parody saw Hitler himself in increasingly ridiculous comedic situations. Misguided at best, and downright offensive at worst, its trivialization of the Second World War and flippant portrayal of the infamous dictator left viewers infuriated. It was justifiably pulled from broadcast after a single airing, leaving seven other taped episodes in the vault forever. It fell flat in every conceivable way, and while the network quickly learned their lesson, it’s still baffling how a show with such an erroneous premise made it to air in the first place.

This megahit fantasy series proved to be one of the most popular shows of the modern era, but it still wasn’t immune to criticism, especially in its treatment of female characters. Women in Westeros often found themselves subjected to violence, and in the case of Cersei, from a scene that was consensual in the books. But its mistreatment of female characters wasn’t the end of the show’s issues, and the final season goes down as one of the most contentious in television history. Amid production snafus, unsatisfying ends for character arcs, and anticlimactic resolutions to series-long threats, “Game of Thrones” left fans signing petitions to have the last episodes remade. There’s no better example of how fast fans can turn on a show.

This infamous reality series has always concerned itself with the gross and callous, but that hasn’t stopped it from being revived from cancellation not just once, but twice. It first ran into issues at NBC, where the vile tasks and alleged animal cruelty led the network to yank a handful of episodes from broadcast. The disturbing and grotesque challenges proved unfit for primetime, and after several complaints, the network ended the show entirely. Its brand recognition led to a brief return on NBC, and then MTV, but it always faced the same objections. It seems the growing disapproval has become too great to ignore as the show has been off the air since 2018. Maybe this time it’ll stay canceled for good.

From parent councils, to religious groups, to entire countries, there are few people left on the face of the Earth that this long-running animated program hasn’t offended at some point. The enduring series has never shied away from uncensored profanity, disturbing imagery, or political commentary, even at the cost of its own broadcasting rights - an episode criticizing China's heavy censorship ironically led to the entire show being banned from the country. Fans weren’t immune to disapproval, either, and the attempt at offing accident-prone Kenny for good only lasted a season before viewer-demand saw him resurrected. But despite parent boycotts, countrywide bans, and more controversies than anyone can count, this show has run for over 20 years, with no sign of stopping any time soon.