It’s been 24 years since an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer nearly caused the show to lose its sponsors. Surprisingly, the controversial episode wasn‘t related to the show’s progressive themes. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran for seven seasons, followed Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) as she fought vampires, demons, and other creatures in Sunnydale, California. The show was known for being ahead of its time with its portrayal of women and LGBTQ+ characters, something rarely seen on television at the time. But the episode that sparked the most outrage didn’t focus on those issues at all.
Twenty-four years ago, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode “Doublemeat Palace” aired and nearly caused the show to lose several major sponsors.
24 Years Ago, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Released “Doublemeat Palace”
The twelfth episode of the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, titled “Doublemeat Plaza,” first aired on January 29, 2002. This season focused on Buffy navigating life after high school, trying to find a way to support herself while still fighting vampires. The episode centers around Buffy’s new job at the fast-food restaurant, Doublemeat Plaza. Meanwhile, Xander and Anya dealt with some demonic issues, and Amy tried to get Willow interested in magic again, but the episode’s main storyline revolved around Buffy’s experiences at work.
Buffy is constantly on the lookout for trouble, and when she discovers a severed finger while working at Doublemeat Plaza, she suspects the restaurant is using human meat in its burgers. As employees begin to vanish, she starts investigating, determined to prove her job is connected to these disappearances. Unfortunately, by the time her friends, Xander included, arrive and start eating the burgers, it’s too late for her to warn them.
The episode took an unexpected turn when it was revealed the mystery wasn’t about cannibalism at all. The restaurant wasn’t serving human meat; instead, a demon was secretly feeding there. Buffy ultimately defeats the demon, saving others from harm. She discovers the restaurant’s ‘secret ingredient’ is actually processed vegetables. In exchange for keeping this information quiet and getting her job back, Buffy promises not to reveal the burgers aren’t made with real meat. Despite this, sponsors threatened to pull funding from the show.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Almost Lost Sponsors Over Controversial Episode
Joss Whedon shared that Buffy the Vampire Slayer faced potential funding cuts from sponsors because of how it depicted the fast food industry in one episode. He told the New York Times that while the show often had difficulty attracting major guest stars, they generally had creative freedom, except when it came to this particular issue.
Joss Whedon revealed that the only time the show ever faced pushback was when Buffy had a job at a fast food restaurant. Apparently, the advertisers were uncomfortable with it, making a hamburger and chicken sandwich the most controversial elements of the entire series.
It’s surprising, but this was the only time Joss Whedon faced significant criticism for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode. While the show included several controversial storylines – including scenes depicting sexual assault involving characters like Xander and Spike – it was a seemingly milder plot about contaminated meat and a dangerous fast-food chain that actually caused the biggest uproar, even upsetting the restaurant’s sponsors.
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2026-01-29 17:10