Summary
- The Big Bang Theory faced a ban on a streaming platform in China, prompting Chuck Lorre to mock Chinese authorities in a message during the show's closing credits.
- Lorre expressed amusement and satisfaction that the Chinese government deemed the sitcom inappropriate for viewing, showcasing his sense of humor.
- The show also faced a potential lawsuit over a derogatory comment made about Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit in a season 2 episode, with Netflix forwarding the complaint to Warner Bros. for resolution.
The show had a great run on CBS for 12 seasons, and could've gone on for additional episodes as well. Nonetheless, The Big Bang Theory enjoyed lots of success, though there were some issues behind the scenes along the way.
In the following, we're going to take a closer look at why the show was banned from a streaming platform overseas. Chuck Lorre didn't let this slide, and decided to take a shot at the streaming service with a lengthy message after a certain Big Bang episode.
We'll reveal what Lorre had to say, while taking a look at other hidden messages left the by the show's creator throughout the series.
Chuck Lorre Took A Shot At Sohu For Banning The Big Bang Theory During The Show's Closing Credits
Over in China, one of its biggest streaming video sites decided to pull The Big Bang Theory from its streaming platform. The choice to pull Big Bang didn't make much sense, and the platform issued an ambiguous reason for pulling the show. As expected, Chuck Lorre shot back at Chinese authorities over the Big Bang Theory ban.
Lorre decided to do so in a unique way, during the vanity cards at the end of a Big Bang Theory episode.
Lorre wrote in his lengthy message, “The government of China has decided that “The Big Bang Theory” is not appropriate for viewing. I have to assume there was some sort of formal process involved in this decision. In all likelihood, a gaggle of communists sat in a darkened room and watched a few episodes. I like to think they took notes that were later used to formulate an official document that detailed the corrosive cultural effects caused by the shenanigans of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Wolowitz, Koothrappali, Amy and Bernadette."
The show's creator continues, "I like to think that during these screenings one of them laughed out loud and was promptly sent to a re-education camp on the outskirts of Urumqi. I like to think one of them was reassured by how often the characters on the show eat Chinese takeout. I like to think there’s a Chinese word for shenanigans. Regardless, the whole affair makes me very happy. The overlords of 1.3 billion people are afraid of our sitcom. Exactly what we were going for!”
It seems like the ban wasn't permanent as, later on, it was lifted and The Big Bang Theory was back in China... Definitely an awkward situation, but not the first time Lorre put a hidden message during a Big Bang episode.
It Wasn't The Only Time Chuck Lorre Wrote A Hidden Message On TBBT During The Closing Credits
Chuck Lorre did admit that saying goodbye to The Big Bang Theory was very hard, especially given the ease involved backstage with the cast and crew.
During the show's final episode, Lorre planted another special message during the end credits, writing, "The End."
Lorre did the same for his other shows like Two and a Half Men. Though it seems like he took a subtle shot at Charlie Sheen during one particular vanity card.
He wrote, "Do not attempt to replicate what you saw in tonight's episode of Two and a Half Men. Despite the seeming lack of serious consequences and regardless of the hilarity that ensued, this is extremely dangerous behaviour that could result in injury or death. Please keep in mind that we employ a highly-paid Hollywood professional who has years of experience with putting his life at risk. And sadly, no, I'm not talking about our stunt man."
Without a doubt, Lorre showcased his sense of humor when creating these post-show messages.
Big Bang Theory Faced Other Problems With Netflix
That wasn't it for streaming problems for The Big Bang Theory. Netflix got a complaint for a certain season 2 episode. Raj makes a comment about Bollywood star, Madhuri Dixit during his conversation with Sheldon. He says, "Aishwarya Rai is a goddess, by comparison, Madhuri Dixit is a leprous prostitut." Because of the scene, the show faced a potential lawsuit.
This bit on the show did not sit well with political analyst Mithun Vijay Kumar. He wrote in his letter to Netflix, "Recently, I came across an episode of the show Big Bang Theory on Netflix where Kunal Nayyar's character uses an offensive and derogatory term to refer to the legendary Bollywood actress@MadhuriDixit."
He continued on X, "As a fan of Madhuri Dixit since childhood, I was deeply disturbed by the dialogue. I found it highly derogatory and offensive towards Indian culture and women. So I asked my lawyer to send a legal notice to Netflix, requesting that they remove the episode from their platform. It's important to hold media companies accountable for the content they distribute, and I hope that @NetflixIndia will take this matter seriously."
Although the complaint was sent to Netflix, it wasn't the company's fight to face. They forwarded the complaint over to Warner Bros. Not update on the situation just yet.
