It's unclear why the original U.S. "Wife Swap" series was canceled in the first place. Although ratings and a bigger focus on spin-off "Celebrity Wife Swap" likely played a part, controversies surrounding the original series' run may have been considered, too. In 2018, Jacob Stockdale, whose family appeared on Season 4, was charged with murder and turned himself in after killing his brother and mother (per People). The show had depicted the family as "devoutly religious."

There was also the Heene family, who appeared on Season 5 of "Wife Swap." InTouch posited that the family "seemed desperate for fame and [the] parents would stop at nothing to get it." After a TLC reality show didn't pan out, they staged a viral stunt in 2009, telling authorities that their 6-year-old son Falcon had gotten stuck in a homemade helium balloon which floated away from their Colorado home. 

"Balloon Boy" blew up on the Internet, until the balloon landed and it was revealed that Falcon was hiding in the attic the whole time. His parents pleaded guilty for the hoax; however, they were later pardoned by Gov. Jared Polis, per NPR. "We are all ready to move past the spectacle from a decade ago that wasted the precious time and resources of law enforcement officials and the general public," he said in a statement. Yikes.

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