Jerry Springer banned episode exposed in Netflix documentary as producer reveals surprising details

Clips from a banned episode, deemed too extreme even for the show’s standards, left fans shocked.

Netflix revisited The Jerry Springer Show in a special that highlighted some of the program’s most controversial episodes.  

Fans were surprised to see clips from a previously banned episode, which was considered too extreme even by the show’s dramatic standards. In the episode, a man described to host Jerry Springer how he left his wife—not for another woman, but for a horse.  

The episode featured the horse joining the man on stage, where the two shared a kiss, shocking the audience. Television producer Toby Yoshimura recounted in Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action how he first received the call about the unusual storyline, describing the experience as "a f**king dream."  

Toby reenacted his conversation with the man, saying, "The difference between you and bestiality is what? The animal loves you back." He further explained that the man claimed to feel an "immediate connection" with the horse, a claim Toby found bizarre. Despite his initial reservations, Toby pitched the idea, which was ultimately embraced by the production team.  

Producers felt it was essential to have the horse physically present during the episode to maximize shock value. Head producer Richard Dominick described the concept as "exciting" and quickly approved it, with the crew sworn to secrecy to maintain the element of surprise.  

At the time, the show faced significant backlash, with critics like Oprah Winfrey condemning its sensationalist approach. The controversial content often sparked public unease, with even religious groups voicing their disapproval.  

Introducing the segment, Jerry Springer addressed the criticism with a humorous remark: "There's been all this controversy about all the fights. But today we have a love story."  

During the segment, the man, identified as Mark, admitted to having "intimate relations" with the horse and participating in a wedding ceremony. He even kissed the horse on stage as it licked him. Chicago media critic Robert Feder later described the episode as "the most vile and grotesque freak show that’s ever been on television."