Jerry Springer’s most outrageous moments remembered as legendary host dies at 79
LEGENDARY talk show host Jerry Springer has died Thursday morning at 79 as fans remember the television personality’s most outrageous moments.
A cause of death has yet to be disclosed, but Springer reportedly died at his home in suburban Chicago.
His family later confirmed this in a statement to local NBC News affiliate WLWT, where he used to work.
The 79-year-old famously hosted his self-titled television series, The Jerry Springer Show, for 28 seasons after it began in 1991.
Over the years, what Springer chose to televise on his talk show garnered controversy.
Fans have witnessed on-air fights, racist rants, and the explosive unraveling of relationships.
Drama on The Jerry Springer Show even gained so much popularity that the series beat out The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1998 for viewership, according to Variety.
Here are the most controversial and shocking moments that the late Jerry Springer aired on his talk show over the years, in no particular order.
KUNG FU HILLBILLY
During The Jerry Springer Show’s 17th season in 2008, a man named David was the show’s main guest, per The Guardian.
David identified himself as a hillbilly and claimed that he gained a mastery of Kung Fu by watching action films at home.
In the episode, David told Springer that he intended to take the girlfriend of his roommate Lil Wayne (not the rapper), away from him by using what he learned.
The self-proclaimed Kung Fu master even showed off a few moves for the audience.
BROKEN SEX RECORD
Another bizarre moment for viewers was when Jerry brought Annabel Chong onto the show in season five.
Chong claimed to have had sex with 251 different men within 10 hours.
The audience couldn’t seem to believe what they were hearing, but it only got more interesting when Springer brought Jasmin St. Clair on the show episodes later.
St. Clair upped the number to 300 men, which broke a previous record she had set by herself after Chong’s.
CIVIL RIGHTS FIGHT
However, many fans might argue that the most outrageous and the only real fight to ever happen on The Jerry Springer Show was during the season 16 episode, Attack of the KKK Dad.
Springer brought on the late Irv Rubin, chairman of the Jewish Defense League at the time, and attempted to have them sit down with several white-cloaked members of the Klu Klux Klan.
As soon as Rubin and his followers stepped out onto the stage, a fight broke out on air, and fans watched as security attempted to pull the men off of one another.
Audience members began chanting Springer’s name, and after the groups finally settled down, the iconic host called out Rubin for initiating fights, even with the KKK’s “horrible beliefs,” per Springer.
Springer went on a short monologue comparing the “anger” and “hate” that both groups had for the other, and it likely left fans with questions after it aired.
SEVERED LIMBS
Two guests that appeared during The Jerry Springer Show’s run also made an intriguing decision to sever one or more of their limbs.
A man named Earl appeared during an episode of the show to explain to Springer exactly why he took garden shears and removed his male reproductive organ.
Earl claimed the decision came from wanting to keep it out of reach from another man who had allegedly stalked him for years.
Both men confronted each other on the show with contradictory claims about what their relationship entailed.
THE NAKED PEEK-A-BOO
A woman named Sandra appeared during an episode of the show that Springer noted as what may have been “the most bizarre story we’ve done in our 15-year history.”
Sandra explained that she was a member of the trans community and cut off her legs with a power saw because her brain allegedly told her to do so.
A highly controversial episode of The Jerry Springer Show contained a clip that earned some of the most views on the series’ YouTube channel.
Two men came onto the show to discuss their relationship in a season 25 episode called Naked-Peek-A-Boo.
Judah and Johnny were best friends at the time, and Judah had recently come out as gay and arrived on the show to do a dance for Johnny.
He then proceeded to rap to Johnny and said that he wanted to get a “naked-peek-a-boo,” revealing his romantic feelings toward his best friend and proposing on the spot.
The audience then erupted as Johnny said yes, and they made out on live television.
With all the wild moments over the years, its clear that Springer was a facilitator of a space that brought people from all walks of life into the spotlight.
Jene Galvin, a lifelong friend and spokesman for the family, explained this to WLWT on Thursday after announcing Springer’s death.
“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word,” Galvin said.
“He’s irreplaceable, and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart, and humor will live on.”
Springer married in 1973 to Micki Velton, who he is survived by, along with his daughter, Katie.