It’s no surprise that Family Guy has aired some highly controversial episodes, given its satirical nature and willingness to joke about anything. The show features problematic characters and storylines – like Quagmire’s inappropriate behavior and the consistent mistreatment of Meg – and often uses dark humor, such as Stewie’s attempts to harm his mother. While the show is known for pushing boundaries, certain episodes have been considered so extreme that one was completely pulled from television.
Here is a look at the seven most controversial episodes of Family Guy.
7) “The 2000-Year-Old Virgin”
The South Park episode, “The 2000-Year-Old Virgin,” sparked controversy among Christian viewers due to its portrayal of Jesus Christ. While South Park has previously featured Jesus—even in a fight with Santa Claus—Family Guy took things a step further. In the episode, Jesus is shown living in Quahog and deliberately avoiding returning to Heaven to live with God.
Peter and his friends are surprised when Jesus tells them he’s still a virgin, so they try to help him experience intimacy. Peter arranges a meeting between Jesus and Lois as a birthday/Christmas present, only to discover Jesus does this every year as a prank – he’s not actually a virgin. Jesus claims he was teaching them a lesson about resisting temptation, but quickly runs off, revealing his lie. It was a risky joke that could have easily gone wrong.
6) “Road to Germany’
Many of the most talked-about episodes of Family Guy are also considered its strongest. “Road to Germany” is a prime example – it tackles a sensitive subject and attempts to find humor within it. For those familiar with the show, the “Road To” episodes follow Brian and Stewie on outlandish adventures, often involving time travel. This episode sends them back to Germany during World War II.
Okay, let’s talk about this Family Guy episode. It’s become infamous because of a really questionable plot point: Mort Goldman somehow ends up time-traveling with Brian and Stewie… all the way back to the Holocaust. As the show’s primary Jewish character being present during such a horrific event, and the attempt to find humor in it, felt deeply misguided to me. It’s a tricky subject matter, and while the episode received praise despite the controversy, it’s a choice that continues to bother a lot of viewers – and honestly, I can see why.
5) “Turban Cowboy”
As a huge fan of animation, I remember the “Turban Cowboy” episode of Family Guy caused a real stir, and honestly, I can see why. It felt like it was poking fun at Muslims at a time when they already face a lot of prejudice and misunderstanding. What made it even more sensitive was the storyline itself: Peter befriends a Muslim man named Mahmoud, but it turns out he’s actually planning something dangerous. It just felt a bit too close to real-world fears and stereotypes for some people, and it sparked a lot of debate.
This episode is difficult to watch even now, but it’s particularly upsetting because of a joke showing Peter killing people at the Boston Marathon. The real Boston Marathon bombing happened shortly after the episode originally aired, which is why many fans avoid rewatching it.
4) “Send in Stewie, Please”
Stewie Griffin is known for pretending to be a supervillain, but the Family Guy episode “Send in Stewie, Please” is often debated because it shows a much darker, more ruthless side to his character than fans are used to. The episode centers around Stewie being sent to therapy after a fight at preschool, and features a guest appearance by Ian McKellen as his child psychologist.
Stewie carefully observes his surroundings and begins to understand the man trying to get him to talk about his feelings. Eventually, Stewie breaks down and confesses he pretends to have a British accent, revealing his hidden insecurities. But the situation takes a shocking turn when the man suffers a heart attack. He desperately asks Stewie for his medication, but Stewie shockingly refuses to help, letting him die to ensure no one discovers he revealed his vulnerabilities. This moment, where Stewie allows a man to die to protect his secret, was a particularly controversial and disturbing scene in Family Guy.
3) “Partial Terms of Endearment”
Surprisingly, the “Partial Terms of Endearment” episode is the only one of Family Guy‘s run that has been completely banned, and it never aired on American television. This fact alone makes it one of the most talked-about episodes of Family Guy, and one of the most controversial animated episodes ever created.
Fox not only refused to broadcast the “Partial Terms of Endearment” episode, but also requested that Adult Swim avoid airing it. This has made the episode incredibly well-known and highly sought after by fans. The story revolves around Lois agreeing to be a surrogate mother, and then facing a difficult decision about whether to keep the baby or have an abortion when the intended parents change their minds.
2) “Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q“
Family Guy is known for pushing boundaries and finding humor in almost any situation, even dark or upsetting ones. However, one episode particularly missed the mark and is widely considered one of the show’s worst. Titled “Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q,” the episode attempted to address the serious issue of domestic abuse.
This situation is deeply serious and not funny. The episode involves Quagmire’s sister, Brenda, and the abuse she’s experiencing from her fiancé, which includes both physical and emotional harm. While there was potential to balance humor with the severity of the abuse, the show struggled to find the right tone. Ultimately, the episode didn’t handle the sensitive topic well and felt like a misstep.
1) “Life of Brian”
One of the most debated episodes of Family Guy is still widely disliked by fans. In Season 12, the show aired “Life of Brian,” which featured the death of the family’s dog, Brian. There’s a common rule in Hollywood against killing off animal characters, especially dogs, and when the comedic series broke this rule, many viewers reacted negatively.
When Brian was killed off in a car accident, the Griffin family grieved, and the show attempted to introduce a new dog, Vinny, as a replacement. However, fans strongly rejected the change. This unexpected decision and the show’s attempt at emotional storytelling didn’t work, as subsequent episodes failed to land with audiences still processing Brian’s death. Ultimately, Brian was brought back to life, but this controversial episode of Family Guy was almost disastrous for the show.
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2026-02-15 18:13