The Most Controversial Moments From This Beloved '90s Sitcom — Would They Air Today?originally appeared onParade. It's been 36 years sinceSeinfeldfirst aired — and sitcoms haven't been the same since, and for good reason. The hit comedy, starringJerry Seinfeld,Julia Louis-Dreyfus,Jason AlexanderandMichael Richards, follows a group of friends navigating life in New York City, encountering the kinds of quirky characters and absurd situations that could only happen inSeinfeld— and in The Big Apple. The classic series gave us countless unforgettable moments, from the Soup Nazi to Elaine's questionable dance moves, it truly left a permanent mark on pop culture. But as fans have pointed out, some of the show's humor hasn't aged quite as well. Like many '90s sitcoms,Seinfeldpushed the envelope — and sometimes, crossed lines that wouldn't fly today. To its credit,Seinfeldhas held up better than many shows of its time. Iconic episodes like "The Puffy Shirt," where Jerry reluctantly models a ridiculous blouse and shouts, "But I don't wanna be a pirate!" remains as a fan favorite. Still, certain episodes fall flat, or worse, when viewed through a modern lens. From cultural appropriation to tone-deaf jokes, some plots are just plain problematic. Two episodes were even scrapped entirely due to controversial content. Yet other episodes made it to air and continue to spark debate amongst fans. One of the most controversial episodes is Season 5's "The Cigar Store Indian" — and the title alone tells you why. In it, Jerry tries to smooth things over with Elaine by giving her a Native American statue. When he presents it, he begins making stereotypical and offensive remarks — unaware that one of Elaine's friends that's standing there is Native. According toScreen Rant, writersTom GammillandMax Prossoriginally planned for Jerry to give her a moose head, which would've upset her animal rights activist friend. But Seinfeld reportedly felt that was too old school — and pushed for something more politically incorrect. The result? One of the show's most cringe-worthy and offensive episodes. Another poorly aged plot appears in Season 4's "The Outing." In it, Elaine tries to "convert" a gay man after falling for him — missing the mark entirely on how sexual orientation works. The episode tries to play off the humor with the now-infamous line, "Not that there's anything wrong with that," but the concept still feels off. Then there's Season 6's "The Chinese Woman." Jerry starts dating a woman he assumes is Chinese based on her name, only to be surprised when she's not. When Elaine confronts him, he defends himself by saying, "If I like their race, how can that be racist?" Not exactly the best argument. ThoughSeinfelddidn't get everything right, fans of the beloved series still binge watch it today — and continue debating whether the finale was a satisfying ending to their favorite sitcom. The Most Controversial Moments From This Beloved '90s Sitcom — Would They Air Today?first appeared on Parade on Jul 5, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.