Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 8, 2025 · Entertainment

Family Guy Buries Ernie: The Giant Chicken's Iconic End

Family Guy killed off one of the show's iconic characters and confirmed this week that the mainstay character's 23-season run is finally over

THE END OF AN ERA: FAMILY GUY'S BELOVED GIANT CHICKEN MEETS ITS DEMISE

In a shocking twist that has left fans reeling, Family Guy's iconic Giant Chicken, Ernie, has finally met its demise after a 23-season run of epic battles with Peter Griffin. The show's executive producer, Alec Sulkin, confirmed the news in an interview with TVLine last week, leaving die-hard fans to mourn the loss of their favorite feathered foe.

For those who may be new to the world of Quahog, Ernie first strutted onto the scene 25 years ago in the debut season of Family Guy. Voiced by the talented Danny Smith, this gigantic bird was known for its epic battles with Peter Griffin, which became a staple of the show's humor and fan favorite moments. The chicken's legendary feud with Peter was so iconic that fans have been left wondering how it could ever be topped.

Ernie the Giant Chicken made his first appearance 25 years ago in the debut season of the adult comedy series and recently made his last one

In an interview with TVLine, Sulkin revealed that despite the character's impressive run, they had reached a point where "it was hard to top" the many hilarious set pieces featuring Ernie and Peter. The producer confessed that the show's writers may have simply gotten the best out of the giant chicken, leaving little room for more memorable moments.

But what exactly led to Ernie's untimely demise? In a recent episode titled "The Chicken or the Meg," Ernie made one final appearance before meeting his maker at the hands (or rather, sword) of none other than Peter's daughter, Meg Griffin. The twist was so unexpected that many fans took to social media to express their shock and outrage.

"It's not just any character, it's Ernie! The guy who's been terrorizing Peter for years!" wrote one fan on Twitter. "Who will rival Peter now? Bring him backk!"

Although the scene aired back in March, it wasn't until this week that executive producer Alec Sulkin confirmed the character is gone for good

Another fan shared a similar sentiment: "There's no way they actually ended that storyline. Meg taking him out is the most random, poetic and disrespectful ending imaginable."

The news of Ernie's passing has sparked a wave of nostalgia among fans, with many reminiscing about the good old days when Ernie was still on the show. One fan jokingly suggested that Ernie could return in another form – as "Robot Chicken"!

But what does this mean for the future of Family Guy? According to Sulkin, there are no plans to revive Ernie's character. However, fans are already organizing a campaign to #BringBackErnie, with thousands signing on to show their support.

He met his end when he was brutally killed by Peter's daughter Meg, who is voiced by Mila Kunis, in the season 23 episode titled: The Chicken or the Meg

As it turns out, Family Guy is not known for its consistency when it comes to killing off beloved characters (ahem, Brian). The show has a history of bringing back deceased characters, so perhaps there's hope yet that Ernie will make an appearance again someday. But until then, fans will have to content themselves with the memories of epic battles past.

A LEGACY THAT WON'T BE FORGOTTEN

Ernie may be gone, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of Family Guy fans everywhere. For 23 seasons, this giant chicken has entertained us with its antics and provided some of the show's most memorable moments. Its rivalry with Peter Griffin was one for the ages – a true testament to the power of comedic writing.

Family Guy has previously brought certain characters back to life, but the executive producer said that they would not be reviving Ernie the chicken in the future

As the show heads into its 24th season next year (yes, you read that right), fans will be eagerly awaiting new episodes and hoping against hope that Ernie might somehow make a comeback. After all, as one fan so aptly put it: "You can't kill off a character like that without giving him a proper sendoff."

In the meantime, Family Guy is back with a bang – literally! Last week's Halloween special, "A Little Fright Music," saw Stewie and Brian teaming up to write a spooky song. And in case you missed it, don't worry: all previous seasons are currently available to stream on Hulu.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR FAMILY GUY?

Ernie the Giant Chicken, who is voiced by Danny Smith, had been in a longtime feud with Peter Griffin, who is voiced by series creator Seth MacFarlane, since he made his first appearance in the finale of the very first season

As the show continues to chug along, fans can expect plenty more laughs, tears, and epic battles between beloved characters. With four more seasons confirmed (yes, we're talking 27!), there's never been a better time to join the Family Guy fan club.

But don't just take our word for it – check out what other fans have to say:

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. Who will rival Peter now?"

Meg had started dating Ernie's son Nugget but was given an ultimatum by the rooster because of his longstanding rivalry with Peter. In response, she decapitated Ernie and threw the patriarch's severed head on the family's front lawn

"It's not fair that Ernie went out like that! He deserved better."

In the words of one brave fan: "I'll never forget you, Ernie. You may be gone, but your legacy lives on in our hearts... and on Hulu, where we can rewatch all your glorious battles with Peter!"

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Many were shocked at the 'random' way in which his character was killed off and how his and Peter's decades-long feud ultimately ended by Meg's hands

It was an unsuspecting ending by an unsuspecting character, some said

Others tweeted that they were not surprised their least favorite character, Meg, had ruined the long-running gag

'OH MY GOD NOOOOO, who will rival Peter now,' one Family Guy fan tweeted on X, formerly Twitter. 'Bring him backk!'

After it was confirmed that Ernie's character had no chance of returning by executive producers, many fans took to social media to share their mixed reactions

Some fans were in disbelief that Ernie would not return in the future. 'They're horribly inconsistent anyways,' one viewer said about the creator and producers before pointing out details from past episodes

One fan joked that he could return in another form. 'But what if he comes back as some sort of...Robot Chicken!'

'There's no way they actually ended that storyline,' another fan wrote on social media. 'The chicken's been fighting Peter longer than some of us have been alive. Meg taking him out is the most random, poetic and disrespectful ending imaginable'

A social media user wrote: 'That whole back-and-forth between Peter and that feisty fowl was one of the show's most beloved running gags, even if folks sometimes got tired of it'

Thousands of fans liked and retweeted one fan's account with the username @WeWantErnieBack. The tweet read that the character died earlier this year and asked fellow fans to show support if they wanted Ernie to be revived and to return to the show

Some fans said the gag was 'tiring' while others looked at it as ending an iconic streak too soon. '20 years of beef undone by the worst character on the show smh,' a viewer tweeted

One fan did not even know the character was killed off. 'Yo I had no idea he f***ing died. Who will fight Peter now?'