Which episode of The Office was removed by Comedy Central? Everything you need to know

The Office (US) has a cult following from across the globe. The show is renowned for its witty humor, creative cold opens, and bringing together a motley group of employees together. Steve Carell, who continued his role as Michael Scott till season 7 of the show, especially became a fan favorite with his atypical style as the boss of Dunder Mifflin.

However, a few times, his sense of humor was labeled offensive due to its controversial nature. One such example was The Office episode Diversity Day (season 1, episode 2), which was removed from syndication for its offensive content.

Notably, Comedy Central dropped the episode in 2021. Many networks started removing older episodes of TV shows that contained offensive material. Despite its humor, the episode showed Michael Scott at his worst as socially unaware, immature, and insensitive.

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Why was The Office's Diversity Day so controversial?

In The Office's Diversity Day episode, Corporate sent a diversity trainer to Dunder Mifflin after Michael recreated a Chris Rock comedy routine and offended employees. Michael performed the routine with inappropriate language, including the n-word, during a staff meeting.

Furthermore, Michael ignored the trainer's efforts and hijacked the session. He asked employees inappropriate questions, like naming races they were "se*ually attracted to."

After that, he also decided to run his own diversity training. In his training, he made everyone wear cards with ethnicities written on their foreheads. The employees had to guess their assigned identity by engaging in stereotypes. Michael encouraged the group to “get real” and “get ugly,” which led to offensive moments.

The standout moment in the episode was Michael’s behavior when Kelly Kapoor walked into the room. Without provocation, Michael used a thick Indian accent and made stereotypical remarks about convenience stores. In reaction, Kelly slapped him, highlighting the discomfort and insensitivity of his actions. Michael dismissed the incident, claiming she understood “what it’s like to be a minority.”

Thus, the episode was rife with racial slurs, which didn't sit well with the audience and ultimately led to its removal from syndication.

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Diversity Day wasn't the only instance in The Office where Michael Scott's humor appeared problematic

The Office often crossed boundaries with jokes and situations that would not be accepted today. For instance, In Basketball (season 1, episode 5), Michael assumed Stanley, an African-American employee, was good at basketball due to his race. He dismissed Kevin, a skilled player, because of his weight. He also refused to let women join the game based on sexist assumptions.

Furthermore, The Dundies, a workplace award show created by Scott himself, included inappropriate categories like Hottest in the Office and Tight A*s labeled categories that objectified employees on their physical appearance, yet again an aspect that promotes toxic work culture.

In another instance, Michael dismissed a serious employee suggestion for mental health outreach. He laughed off depression concerns, showing his disregard for sensitive topics.

Additionally, Todd Packer, a recurring character, turned out to be the most problematic character of the series. With every appearance on the show, he made crude jokes about se*uality and women. In season 2 episode 2, titled S*xual Harassment, he even referred to women as "bimbos" and ridiculed a former employee’s misconduct scandal.

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The Office thrived on discomfort and satire but often blurred the line between comedy and insensitivity. Therefore, modern audiences likely find these moments offensive rather than humorous.