The makers of the Crock-Pot have had to do some serious damage control after their product was blamed for the death of a beloved character on popular TV show This Is Us.

Fans of the show revealed that they had actually rushed to throw out their slow cookers after Tuesday's much-anticipated episode revealed that a faulty Crock-Pot sparked the fire which was responsible for the death of Jack Pearson, played by Milo Ventimiglia.

Jack and his wife Rebecca, played by Mandy Moore, were given the popular appliance by their neighbor George, who explained to the couple how the switch was faulty and had to be fiddled with.

Unsuspecting: Crock-Pot has been forced to defend its products after a fictional version caused a devastating fire on popular TV show This Is Us

Big problem: The gadget in the show had been given to the Pearson family 17 years earlier by a neighbor, who noted it had a faulty switch

Flash point: The February 4 episode of This Is Us, is expected to show the death of Jack Pearson (played by Milo Ventimiglia)

Lit up: Tuesday's episode ended with the Crock-Pot turning on and igniting a dish towel

But despite the storyline being rooted in fiction, concerned fans of the show were frantic over the safety of their own Crock-Pots - and quickly took to social media to reveal that they were considered throwing them away as a result of the dramatic storyline.

'My mom just threw our Crock-Pot out #ThisisUs,' one fan tweeted.

Another joked they would 'never accept a Crock-Pot as a gift' now while one bride-to-be said she was striking the kitchen gadget from her wedding registry.

'Annnnnnd everyone in America throws out their Crock-Pots tonight...' wrote one other user.

The story hit especially close to home for one Facebook user, who revealed: 'We have had a faulty one for years just because it’s been in the family for freakin' ever. Not anymore.

'I’m tossing it tonight once I dry this puddle of tears I’m sitting in from watching the end of tonight’s episode.'

The panic was so widespread that This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman tweeted to remind fans that the killer Crock-Pot was fictional.

'Taking a moment to remind everyone that it was a 20 year old fictional crockpot with an already funky switch? Let's not just lump all those lovely hardworking crockpots together. #ThisIsUs,' he said.

The beleaguered brand responded with the hashtag #Crockpotisinnocent as it rushed to assure its customers that they were safe.

'We totally get it! Last night’s episode was (heartbreaking) & we’re still not over it either!' the brand tweeted.

'We want to assure you that we’re committed to safety & you can continue to use our products with confidence.

'We test our #CROCKPOT rigorously before they hit shelves. Pls DM us with any questions.'

Other users took to Crock-Pot's page to ask for the brand's response to the episode - and the suggestion that its products could lead to deadly fires.

The company quickly responded to the comments, saying: 'Jack Pearson was our Valentine so we equally understand your pain with his loss. We love him and we love you too.

'Don’t further add to our heartbreak by no longer using Crock-Pot Slow Cookers, rest assured our products have been generationally tested by your family and friends.'

This response wasn't quite enough for some fans however, who pressed Crock-Pot further on the worries owners of the products were now experiencing.

Crock-Pot responded with a lengthy statement, explaining that 'it is important that our consumers understand and have confidence that all Crock-Pot slow cookers exceed all internal testing protocols and all applicable industry safety standards and regulations as verified by independent third-party testing labs'.

A plea: After the episode, Crock-Pot released a statement on its Facebook page asking people to refrain from throwing their appliances away

Questions: Crock-Pot was forced to answer questions from many concerned viewers who took to Facebook to share their fears over possible fire hazards

The statement also cited that in 50 years and over 100 million in sales, the company has never had 'consumer complaints similar to the fictional events portrayed in last night’s episode,' adding that the scenario was 'nearly impossible.'

The low wattage of the appliances and the absence of voltage near the switches - not to mention the flame resistant material it is made of - means that the idea of a Crock-Pot starting an inferno is simply not plausible.

'Just like many fans, we will be watching next week’s episode to see how Jack’s story progresses and, regardless of the outcome, we want consumers first and foremost to know they are safe when using their Crock-Pot,' the statement ended.

In the devastating This Is Us episode, Jack was seen switching off the Crock-Pot following a Super Bowl party, before then heading up to bed. However, the gadget somehow turned back on and set a dish towel alight thanks to a faulty switch.

Fire ripped through the home and without batteries in the smoke detector, it was clear that terrible events with tragic consequences were unfolding.

Support! Some people shared kind words for the brand, and promised to stick by it

The end: The fire quickly ripped through the home, revealing that tragedy was on its way

Brave: Jack is seen in a preview for the next episode running through the ablaze family home in the preview

Hearts aflutter: Members of the young Pearson family are shown in peril in the sequence

The follow-up to the episode, which according to NBC will provide the moment 'all of your questions will be answered' about the character's death, will air directly after the Super Bowl.

A preview of the episode shows Jack frantically fighting through the blaze to save his family.

It isn't the first time that depictions of products in movies and television has caused customers to hurl their purchases into the trash or give them a pass in the store.

In the 2004 movie Sideways, Paul Giamatti's wine enthusiast character repeatedly expressed his dislike for Merlot - and in turn caused a dip in sales of the wine in the year after the film's release.

Another instance was Coca-Cola bottles in 2001's Pearl Harbor being used as receptacles for blood in an early hospital scene, but later showing characters enjoying refreshing sips of Pepsi.

It was a conflicting image that stayed with moviegoers and is now viewed as one of the worst product placements Coke has ever involved itself with.