Why was the term, "shellbacks" used as an insult toward the turtles?

[shuriken]

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Probably because it is close to the insult/racial slur "wetback" which is a insult/racial slur against Mexicans. I don't really enjoy hearing slurs in my cartoons, but this is the best assumption I could come up with.

-ms

Ha that makes sense. That and the fact that Turtle freaks and meddlesome reptiles get redundant.