Buzz
Parents often assume that content labeled as child-friendly is safe for young viewers, but this isn’t always true. Over the years, numerous children’s TV shows have included inappropriate material unsuitable for kids. Despite criticism from parents and media watchdogs, explicit content in children’s programming persists and appears to be growing more prevalent. Here are 10 of the most controversial kids’ shows ever broadcast.
10. Adventure Time
The animated series Adventure Time has long been known for its risqué humor. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, it follows the adventures of Finn, a young boy, and his magical dog, Jake, in the fantastical Land of Ooo. Airing on Cartoon Network from 2010 to 2018, the show frequently sparked controversy among parents due to its mature jokes. Examples include Jake and Lady Rainicorn running naked through cabbage fields, Jake hinting at a foot fetish, and Finn being invited into a bouncy castle to watch a princess bounce. Despite being marketed to children and tweens, these adult-themed moments left many parents concerned about the show’s suitability for young audiences.
9. Good Luck Charlie
Good Luck Charlie followed a straightforward and classic premise: a large family with exhausted parents and plenty of heartwarming moments and humor to keep young viewers engaged. While the show primarily targeted kids, it included subtle jokes aimed at adults. In the episode 'Teddy on Ice,' parents Amy and Bob discover their toddler, Charlie, has started using curse words, leaving them unsure how to address it. Although Charlie’s cursing isn’t shown directly, the implication alone was enough to raise eyebrows for a children’s program. Other episodes, such as 'Snow Show Part One' and 'Take Mel out to the Ballgame,' featured characters stripping on camera. These moments, along with numerous other risqué jokes, were noticed by fans during and after the show’s run. Despite this, Good Luck Charlie aired from 2010 to 2014, producing 97 episodes and a TV movie. Today, it’s remembered as a Disney classic, with its adult humor largely overlooked by the public.
8. Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo, an animated series on Cartoon Network, centered on the life of an overly confident ladies' man named Johnny Bravo. Running from 1997 to 2004, the show was filled with adult-themed content, despite airing on a children’s network. It included extreme references like a virgin sacrifice and recurring inappropriate behavior, such as Johnny disregarding women’s personal boundaries. The creators admitted they weren’t overly concerned about the adult content, believing no one was seriously watching the show.
7. 6Teen
This animated series revolved around six sixteen-year-olds navigating life at a local mall, tackling typical teenage experiences like part-time jobs and dating. While intended to be child-friendly, the show often pushed boundaries. For instance, the Halloween special 'Dude of the Living Dead' centered on a peephole in a lingerie store’s changing room. Another episode, 'Over Exposed,' featured characters accidentally and intentionally seeing each other naked. Such plotlines, airing on a children’s network, drew criticism from parents and networks, ultimately contributing to the show’s cancellation in 2010.
6. Total Drama Island
This Canadian animated series, featuring teenagers competing in extreme challenges on an island, was no stranger to controversial content. Censored nudity was a recurring theme, despite the characters being depicted as 16-year-olds. Additionally, many of the challenges, such as eating bull testicles, sparked controversy and were even censored in regions like the United States, where it was altered to 'bull meatballs.' While later seasons continued to include censored nudity and extreme actions, they were significantly toned down compared to the first season.
5. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
One of Disney’s biggest hits in the early 2000s, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody followed the adventures of two brothers living in a luxury hotel with their mother. While most of their escapades were family-friendly, some crossed the line. For instance, in the episode 'Forever Plaid,' the 14-year-old boys drilled holes in a wall to spy on a high school girls’ soccer team changing and gossiping. Another episode included a joke where 16-year-old London began stripping after being told to 'strip and make the bed,' referring to removing sheets. Despite these risqué moments, the show largely avoided controversy during its three-season run and its spin-off series, Suite Life on Deck.
4. Spongebob Squarepants
Given its long run, Spongebob Squarepants has inevitably faced its share of controversies. Some disputes have included a virus-themed episode and another that conservative groups claimed promoted homosexuality among children. However, the most notable and arguably justified controversies stem from the show’s risqué jokes. In one episode, Spongebob tells Patrick his 'genius is showing,' prompting Patrick to cover his private area, implying he thought Spongebob said 'penis.' Another episode shows Spongebob quickly changing the TV channel when Gary enters, claiming he was looking for sports, despite his intense focus on the screen, hinting at fish-themed pornography. These moments have sparked discussions online and among parent groups. Despite this, Spongebob remains a beloved children’s show.
3. Sam and Cat
2. ICarly
Following allegations of abuse and inappropriate behavior against former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider, his shows have been re-examined more critically. Schneider was accused of having an obsession with underage girls’ feet, and some scenes in his shows seem to support this claim, with recurring jokes focusing on girls’ feet. ICarly, his most famous production, faced heightened scrutiny after star Jennette McCurdy expressed discomfort with her acting career, largely spent under Schneider’s direction. While she didn’t detail specific incidents, many scenes in ICarly featured close-ups of underage actresses’ bare feet, including moments of massaging and licking. Controversy deepened when Noah Munck, who played Gibby, shared his perspective on a podcast, stating that while he noticed nothing unusual as a 15-year-old, he now sees issues with the show’s content. Once a beloved children’s series, ICarly’s legacy has been tarnished by these revelations.
1. Jessie
Disney’s Jessie followed the journey of a small-town girl who moved to New York to chase her acting dreams but ended up as a nanny for a wealthy, high-profile couple. Unlike other entries on this list, the show didn’t just feature occasional risqué jokes that spiraled out of control—it seemed to rely heavily on adult humor, despite being aimed at children. One scene involved underage Luke making sexually suggestive comments, prompting Jessie to ask if he had an 'off switch,' to which he provocatively replied, 'Find it.' In another episode, 10-year-old Ravi deduced that their pet lizard’s pregnancy resulted from more than friendship with another lizard they had met earlier, heavily implying sexual activity. These overtly inappropriate moments drew criticism from parent groups, who called for the show’s cancellation. However, their concerns were ignored, and Jessie ran for 98 episodes, becoming one of Disney’s longest-running series, and even spawned a spinoff, Bunk’d, which continues to air today.
