Seth MacFarlane didn't realize he killing Brian off the "Family Guy" animated series would deeply upset fans.
According to IGN, MacFarlane wanted to "surprise" fans after 12 seasons of being on air. However, it was the series creator who ended up being surprised by the connection the viewers have created with Brian.
"We were all very surprised -- in a good way -- that people still cared about that character to be that angry. It didn't occur to us. We thought it would maybe create a little bit of a stir, but the rage was not something we counted on," MacFarlane told a TCA (Television Critics Association) press conference, IGN reports.
Brian's death on "Family Guy" was also a positive influence on the show, MacFarlane explained. It served as a reminder for fans and show creators that anything can happen on the show.
"Based on the numbers, it helped. It did what it was designed to do and reminded people that this is still a show where anything can happen, despite the fact that it's been on for awhile," MacFarlane said.
However, he's not willing to pull off another major death in the show again. The backlash the "Family Guy" team received was a little too intense for him. To the series creator, Brian's death was just another story line for the show.
"No, I already did it! But who knows... Season 25, we'll see," he said.
As for Brian's future in the series, MacFarlane says there was no real plan of killing him off the show, according to IGN.
"Come on! We're not really gonna kill him?!" MacFarlane said. "The network is pretty great about letting us do our thing and letting us run the show how we see fit."
"Family Guy" airs on FOX Sundays at 9 p.m. Check you local listings or visit FOX's official website here for show times.
