Top 10 TV Scenes That Led to HUGE Lawsuits

Top 10 TV Scenes That Led to Huge Lawsuits

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 TV scenes that led to legal troubles. Beware of spoilers!

#10: Prank Gone Wrong

“Punk’d” (2003-07; 2012; 2015; 2020-21)

Honestly, this MTV hidden-camera gag by Ashton Kutcher was downright cruel. It became famous for staging fake emergencies, celebrity scandals or accidents to catch stars off-guard- then revealing it was all a prank. But before that format, the show was originally called "Harassment" and it targeted regular people. In 2002, however, one prank crossed the line. Producers staged a dead body in a one-room suite at Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas-shocking real guests who found it. To make matters worse, hotel security allegedly wouldn’t let the terrified couple leave. Even after the stunt was revealed, the traumatized couple filed for a $10 million lawsuit. The episode never aired, and how it all ended remains a bit murky.

#9: The Final Game

“The Queen’s Gambit” (2020)

This hit miniseries follows Beth Harmon, a fictional chess prodigy who rises from an orphanage to conquer the male-dominated world of chess. While the show received accolades, it also sparked a real-life controversy. In an attempt to elevate Beth’s legacy, the show took a jab at real-life female chess legend Nona Gaprindashvili. In the show’s last episode, the commentator claims that Gaprindashvili never faced men, which is simply not true. Not only did she compete with men, she’s also Georgian, not Russian. Offended by this, Gaprindashvili filed a $5 million defamation lawsuit against Netflix, claiming the show undermined her achievements. The case was later settled privately in 2022.

#8: The Dark Path

“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” (2018-20)

Netflix’s version of Sabrina’s adventures is downright dark. Instead of the bubbly teenage magic, the show dives into witchcraft, satanic lore and occult rituals. Back in 2018, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” landed in hot water with a real-life satanic organisation, the Satanic Temple. What was the issue? The show prominently features a statue of Baphomet, which the organisation claimed looked eerily similar to their own copyrighted version. They also took issue with how the show portrayed the statue in a sinister and evil context, which they claimed defamed their value. So, they filed a $50 million lawsuit against Netflix and Warner Bros. The case ended up not going to trial as the parties reached a settlement, which was not disclosed to the public.

#7: Soft Kitty

“The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)

For a character as eccentric as Sheldon Cooper, it comes as no surprise that he needs a specific song to soothe him when he’s sick or stressed. Avid fans of Sheldon probably know we’re talking about the “Soft Kitty” song. While it was popularized by Amy, Penny, Sheldon and Mary, the lyrics are actually based off of the poem “Warm Kitty” by Edith Newlin.These lyrics had been published decades earlier in a school songbook. However, in 2015, Newlin’s daughters sued the creators of the show and CBS for using it without permission. Unfortunately, the case was dismissed since Newlin’s children couldn’t prove they held valid copyright of their mother’s content.

#6: Nude Backside

“NYPD Blue” (1993-2005)

Back in the ‘90s, network TV had stricter standards around adult content. But shows like “NYPD Blue” broke the rules by airing scenes with strong language and even nudity on a major network. Naturally, it stirred a lot of controversy. One scene, in particular, pushed the boundaries even further. It’s probably an unforgettable one for those who have seen it. It shows a woman’s bare backside as she prepares to shower. After viewers complained, the Federal Communications Commission got involved and fined ABC $1.4 million. After years of legal battles, a court finally threw out the fine in 2011, ruling that the FCC’s indecency policy was too vague.

#5: Shaving the Truth

“Inventing Anna” (2022)

Inspired by a true story, “Inventing Anna” chronicles the rise and fall of Anna Sorokin, a con artist who scammed friends, hotels and banks. But how accurate is the series really? Well, it appears some details were totally made up- and the portrayal of Rachel Williams may be one of them. She’s depicted as shallow, greedy and opportunistic and the real Williams wasn’t having it. In 2022, She filed a defamation suit against Netflix for casting her in such a negative light. Williams’ decision to sell her story rights to HBO instead of Netflix may have played a role in this, or so she believes. Imagine using someone's real name and details without doing the work to portray them truthfully. That isn’t fair!

#4: The Hanna Baker Inspiration

“13 Reasons Why” (2017-20)

Sometimes, what we put out into the world, through powerful platforms like films and television can have serious consequences. The depiction of Hanna Baker taking her own life on this show is one prominent example. While the show opened up discussions about mental health, it soon became a magnet for controversy. In 2017, a young girl took her own life after watching the show-and she wasn’t the only one. The bereaved father filed a class-action lawsuit against Netflix the following year. However, the judge later ruled in favor of Netflix. Still, this is a powerful reminder that content doesn’t only entertain- sometimes, it influences actions and thoughts.

#3: Framing a Killer

“Making a Murderer” (2015-18)

We all know documentaries don’t always present the full truth, even if they claim to be a “true story”. That’s precisely the issue Andrew Colborn raised in his lawsuit against Netflix over the hit docuseries “Making a Murderer”. Who is Colborn? He was a Manitowoc County Sheriff's department officer featured in the Stephen Avery case. According to him, the docuseries made it look like he was involved in framing Avery. So, Colborn filed a lawsuit against Netflix for omitting key facts, and portraying him in a dishonest manner. However, the court dismissed the case saying that although the show took a clear narrative stance, it didn’t amount to defamation. The truth is, the entire case is a tricky one.

#2: Negative Portrayal

“When They See Us” (2019)

This powerful Netflix series tells the true story of the Central Park Five-a group of boys who were wrongfully convicted. Felicity Huffman plays Linda Fairstein, then head of Manhattan sex crime unit. She’s depicted as a driving force behind the prosecution, often aggressively pushing for conviction even with no evidence. After the show shook the world, Fairstein’s image took a serious hit. She was dropped by her publishers and even removed from several boards. In response, she filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix for how she was portrayed in the series. While parts of the lawsuits were allowed to proceed, Fairstein ultimately reached an agreement with Netflix a week before the case could go to trial. But the damage had already been done.

#1: The Mistress

“The Jerry Springer Show” (1991-2018)

Messy doesn’t even begin to describe this ‘90s trash TV show. It thrived on shock values, surprise reveals and all-out brawls. Sometimes, the drama spilled into real-life-with tragic consequences. In 2000, Nancy Campbell-Panitz appeared on an episode titled “Secret Mistresses Confronted” alongside her ex-husband Ralf Panitz and his girlfriend, Eleanor. Nancy had been allegedly misled by the producers into thinking she was there for reconciliation, only for her to be humiliated. But the worst came after. Hours after the episode aired, Nancy was found dead and Ralf would be convicted of her murder. Nancy’s sons filed a civil lawsuit against the show, claiming it created a volatile environment that led to her death. The case was eventually dropped without a financial settlement.

What other TV scenes have led to huge lawsuits? Let us know in the comments!