Family Guy's 9/11 parody: Did the show go too far?

Fox's long-running animated hit may have crossed a line with an episode in which two characters high-five after ensuring that the terrorist attacks happen

In Sunday's controversial episode of "Family Guy," a time-traveling Stewie and Brian ensure that the 9/11 attacks happen in order to prevent an even-worse nuclear civil war.
(Image credit: FOX)

Family Guy is no stranger to controversy. But after Sunday's installment of Fox's animated series, some critics are insisting that this time, the show really went too far. In the episode, Stewie the baby and Brian the dog travel back in time to prevent the terrorist attacks of 9/11 from happening. The duo succeeds — but subsequently, the country lacks the goodwill and national unity that followed the attacks. America then continues down its rancorous, bitterly-divided path until a civil war breaks out, southern states secede, and a nuclear war begins. Ruling that the world would be better off if 9/11 happened, Stewie and Brian go back again to make sure the attacks take place. "We did it Brain — we made 9/11 happen! High-five!" Stewie says, adding moments later, "Wow. That probably wouldn't look good out of context." Did Family Guy finally go too far?

The show crossed a line: It's easy to see why so many people are offended, says Kate Moon at TV Fanatic. The high-five celebration after Stewie and Brian successfully ensure that 9/11 will indeed happen was "definitely" inappropriate. Sometimes, you just shouldn't go there.

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