Jerry Springer has recently apologized for his controversial show, stating that he's "so sorry" for "ruining the culture."
The 78-year-old appeared on David Yontef's Behind the Velvet Rope podcast and explained that he was remorseful due to the impact that his show had on people.
The Jerry Springer Show was a chat show that spanned over 27 years before it subsequently came to an end in July 2018. Over that lengthy period, we saw some pretty wild content on our screens - and that's putting it lightly.
From uncovering the secrets of incestuous couples to exposing hidden love affairs on national television, the show really went to town on providing what was referred to as 'extreme entertainment.'
Speaking on the podcast, Springer said: "I just apologize."
"I’m so sorry. What have I done? I’ve ruined the culture," the host added, before joking: "I just hope hell isn’t that hot because I burn real easy. I’m very light-complected, and that kind of worries me."
Despite being incredibly popular during its run, the talk show didn't come without criticism.
In a piece for The Guardian, author Stuart Heritage explained how the show "splashed around in humanity’s worst excesses."
"In episodes with titles such as 'I’m Pregnant by a Transsexual!' and 'Lesbolicious', Springer would introduce a guest, hear their complaints, bring on an aggressor and watch as they verbally and physically attacked each other," Heritage wrote.
He then went on to discuss how Springer himself repeatedly distanced himself from his problematic show given his "erudite and politically conscious" personality, telling Reuters: "I would never watch my show. I'm not interested in it. It's not aimed towards me. This is just a silly show."
Not only was The Jerry Springer Show slammed for exploiting vulnerable people for entertainment purposes, it was also called out for its promotion of aggression and violence. Episodes across the series saw men and women alike physically fighting on stage in front of hundreds of excited audience members who egged them on.
While there was security on stage who would eventually break things up, the show was notorious for their use of a bell that promoted guests to attack one another.
Other eyebrow-raising aspects of the show included the heckling segment, where audience members were given some time to mock or taunt guests.
(And don't even get me started on the Jerry Beads... Look that one up in your own time.)
After the show came to an end, Springer continued his hosting duties on America's Got Talent for a while before starting his own self-titled podcast.