Steve-O admits 'Jackass' was a "bad influence" on kids

It ran for three seasons between 2000 and 2001, and had a number of spin-offs, including 'Viva La Bam', 'Homewrecker' and 'Dr. Steve-O', plus several movies.

And Steve-O has confessed that they were "genuinely worth vilifying" for encouraging a generation of viewers to do their own pranks and wind up in hospital.

Speaking on the 'Hotboxin with Mike Tyson' podcast, he said: "We were genuinely worth vilifying because back then they didn't have YouTube or video on the Internet and we were legitimately a bad influence.

"When 'Jackass' came out, little kids were showing up in hospitals all over the country and maybe the world because they saw us doing this crazy s*** and they wanted to do it themselves."

These days, pranks are a big business on the likes of YouTube and TikTok, so Steve-O says they can no longer take the blame.

The stand-up comic added: "At that time, you could really point to us as being a bad influence.

"But I think over the years because now that there's so much YouTube, [MTV's], so much, it's not our f****** fault anymore."

The latest film in the franchise is 'Jackass Forever', which was released earlier this year.

The film stars original members Johnny, Steve-O, Dave England, Wee Man, Danger Ehren, Chris Pontius, Preston Lacy, plus newcomers and celebrity guests.

Leftover footage from the film was used in Netflix's 'Jackass 4.5'.

What's more, a new series is in the works for Paramount+ following the box office success of the latest film, which grossed more than $80 million worldwide.

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish said last month: "Based off the success of 'Jackass Forever,' we're working with the creators to continue the partnership with a new series, bringing even more ridiculous antics straight to Paramount+."