NBC removed Seinfeld’s ninth-season episode “The Puerto Rican Day” from syndication after it caused widespread offence, despite being one of the sitcom’s most watched instalments. The controversy centred on a scene in which Kramer accidentally burns and then stamps on a Puerto Rican flag, prompting criticism that the programme treated a national symbol disrespectfully.

The episode follows Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer becoming stuck in Manhattan traffic during the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade after leaving a Mets game. It was the series’ second highest-rated episode, behind only the finale broadcast the following week, but backlash led NBC to withdraw it from syndication.