Disney Channel Pulls 'Jessie' Episode Following Complaints Over Gluten-Free Jokes

The Disney Channel has pulled a new episode of "Jessie" from its scheduled premiere airing on Friday following complaints over a bullying scene.

This message was posted on the channel's Facebook page:

To our viewers, we received your feedback about tonight’s "Jessie" episode which some of you accessed early on Video-on-Demand. We are removing this particular episode from our regular programming schedule and will re-evaluate its references to gluten restrictions in the character’s diet. Please accept our apologies for the upset this episode caused you and your family. We value your feedback and thank you for watching Disney Channel.

The episode in question was entitled "Quitting Cold Koala" and this is the official description of the episode:

"Luke decides that it’s time to give up Kenny his stuffed koala, so he tries to spend one night without Kenny and gives him to Jessie to take care of. When Kenny is accidentally damaged overnight, Stuart performs emergency 'surgery' to put him back together again."

One of the subplots of the episode involves Jesse watching Stuart while his parents are out of town. During breakfast, he's presented with some pancakes by Bertram (Kevin Chamberlin) and he asks if they are gluten-free. He's told no, but Bertram jokes they are "glute-free" and a joke is made by Jessie (Debby Ryan) about his five page list of ailments, including an allergy to cheese. When it comes to cheese, Betram advises him to just "power through it."

Stuart also has a crush on young Zuri (Skai Jackson), who warns him that if he refers to her as sweetie one more time, "you're going to taste some gluten-free knuckles." Later in the scene, she tosses some pancakes in his face and when he begins panicking and brushing the crumbs off of his face, Ravi (Karan Brar) jokes "Wow, he makes ME look macho."

The comments sparked complaints from some viewers, who argued that at best the jokes were insensitive and at worst could encourage kids to think it was okay to bully someone over their very real dietary restrictions. Some people with Celiac Disease also complained that the jokes made a gluten-free diet seem like a silly fad or some sort of optional dietary choice instead of a potentially serious health issue.

After the episode was pulled from the schedule, the Disney Channel PR twitter account tweeted this message:

We're pulling the "Jessie" episode, will re-evaluate references to restrictions in character’s diet.  Our apologies for any upset caused.

Actress Skai Jackson also posted this note to fans:

Sorry that the new Jessie episode didn’t air. I just want to say there was no bullying in the episode. Disney channel is against bullying.