Top 10 Most Controversial Jackass Moments
#10: The Jet Ski Lawsuit
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While stunts go wrong all the time, some backfire worse than others. And some unfortunately involve spectators. When Steve-O and Chris Pontius were filming a tug-of-war jet ski stunt, a man named Michael Vicens-Segura stuck around to assist with the vehicles. During filming, a bungee cord snapped and hit the bystander at high speed. Vicens-Segura suffered severe head injuries that would later require surgery to mend. After the incident, he sued Steve-O and Chris Pontius for 12 million dollars. The defendants argue that Vicens-Segura put himself in harm’s way. All of the press around the case made it clear how dangerous the stunts can truly be.
#9: Johnny Knoxville Quits
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One canceled bit for the “Jackass” show had Dave England eating all the ingredients of an omelet, , frying the vomit, and feeding the concoction to Steve-O. A similar version aired on MTV, only it was England himself who ate the omelet. The Steve-O version did not pass MTV’s censors. It wasn’t the idea of one man eating another man’s fried puke that had them agitated, but the fact that there was no visual evidence of the “vomelet” being cooked at a safe 160 degrees. They requested that the crew reshoot the scene with OSHA agents on set but Knoxville quit in response, claiming that he didn’t want to do “a watered-down version of ‘Jackass.’”
#8: Fishing with Steve-O
An extremely and incredibly dangerous stunt involving Steve-O, a fish hook, and some sharks is still heavily discussed today. “The Fish Hook” stunt starts on a painful note when he puts himself on the hook. After that moment, Steve-O jumps into the ocean and flails around as sharks circle below him. One even gets close enough that Steve-O accidentally kicks it in the head! We understand why this stunt could have many people covering their eyes. And behind the scenes, Knoxville himself questioned if the stunt should even be completed. Despite mixed feelings, the eye-watering stunt became an unforgettable “Jackass” image.
#7: PETA Boycotts
PETA aka, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, were not happy with “Jackass Forever.” The movie contains a number of stunts involving dangerous animals. One sees Poopies kneeling in front of a snake and goading it into biting him on the nose. Outside of that encounter, the more infamous incident saw a bull charging into Knoxville. But the part where he was sent spinning through the air wasn’t the end of things. The treatment of these animals was too much for PETA, who asked the city of Los Angeles to look into potential charges for animal cruelty. They also boycotted the movie and urged their followers to do so as well.
#6: Night Pandas
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The first “Jackass” film contains a bit that could be considered racially insensitive. It’s called Night Pandas, and it sees a small group running through the streets of Tokyo while wearing panda suits. The very idea could be seen as offensive because pandas come from China as opposed to Japan. Detractors were concerned that their actions were implying that the two countries were one and the same. Additionally, others argue that the bit mocked both cultures at once. It didn’t help that the visuals were accompanied by the Vapors’ “Turning Japanese,” which contains a riff that stereotypes the sounds of East Asia.
#5: The Joe Lieberman Letter
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It didn’t take long for “Jackass” to attract the attention of politicians. Senator Joe Lieberman took particular offense to the show. Lieberman was a Senator between 1989 and 2013 and was Al Gore’s running mate in the 2000 presidential race. After his campaign failed to win the election, he turned his focus to “Jackass”. In February 2001, Lieberman wrote a letter to MTV’s parent company to either cancel the show or cut the dangerous physical stunts. He called the program “exploitative” and argued that it was causing harm by encouraging young copycats. But since the franchise continued to film over 20 years and counting, it’s safe to say Liberman’s letter didn’t work.
#4: Big Red Rocket
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A stunt from “Jackass Number Two” is arguably one of the most reckless things the team ever did. In fact, it nearly resulted in loss of life. The stunt sees Johnny Knoxville riding a giant rocket that shoots into the sky and sends him plummeting to the water below. During their first try, the rocket exploded and sent large metal rods shooting out at high speeds. In an interview, Knoxville admitted that the rods nearly killed multiple people, including himself. “Jackass” is usually pretty good when it comes to safety standards. But creating a situation where metal rods nearly impale multiple people is one of the show’s most obvious oversights.
#3: Terror Taxi
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While this prank is certainly a “Jackass” classic, it could be considered problematic for obvious reasons. The gist is that Ehren McGhehey dons offensive makeup to look like a Middle Eastern man along with a prop explosive belt. He then proceeds to mess with the driver while they’re on the way to an airport. As the stunt continues, the cabbie only gets increasingly angry. The twist is that the driver is on the prank. And since he’s in on it, he threatens an oblivious McGhehey with a fake firearm. All the jokes about terrorism and use of brownface were shocking enough on their own. The fact that McGhehey thought that his life was in danger further pushed the stunt into even more controversial territory.
#2: Blamed for Copycat Deaths
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Despite the disclaimer that accompanies every “Jackass” episode and movie, many people have been influenced by the franchise and have attempted their own stunts. But this has tragically resulted in grievous injuries and deaths. Two people have died in stunts involving playground merry-go-rounds. It’s believed that the deceased were inspired by a scene in “Jackass: The Movie.” And in March of 2008, Cameron Bieberle of Florida was killed in a shopping cart-related accident. It’s also believed that this stunt was inspired by “Jackass,” as one bit in the television show sees Bam and his friends goofing around in shopping carts.
#1: Bam’s Firing
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While “Jackass Forever” got a warm reception, some fans missed Bam Margera. Although the crew tried to incorporate him, he still continued to struggle with substance use. After Margera broke clauses related to sobriety during filming, he was released from the film. This firing opened up a rift between him and other crew members. His choice to harass his former coworkers on social media caused director Jeff Tremaine to file for a restraining order. Margera proceeded to sue the filmmakers and production companies over the belief that he was wrongfully terminated and that the film used his creative contributions without proper credit. After reaching a settlement, he would go on to appear in a very small portion of “Jackass Forever”.
