5 Outrageous Moments Friends Would Never Be Able Get Away With In 2023
Friends might be one of the most iconic sitcoms and popular TV shows of all time, but some of its storylines didn't age well.
The NBC sitcom about six friends living in Manhattan aired for ten seasons from September 1994 to May 2004. Almost 20 years have passed since the show ended, and new viewers find some of its storylines offensive and cringeworthy.
Modern sitcoms would never be able to get away with some of the jokes Friends featured. What might have seemed funny then, feels like nonsense these days.
All the Carol jokes
Probably the most cringeworthy Friends jokes were about Ross' ex-wife Carol and her sexual orientation. Carol, her relationship with the new partner Susan, and the fact that Ross had been married to a lesbian had become a recurring theme in many Friends dialogues. Homophobic jokes like these would never find their way into a modern TV show.
Chandler's transphobia
Another storyline that could offend any LGBTQ+ viewer is Chandler's transphobia aimed at one of his parents, who had come out as a transgender woman. For some reason, laughing at a transgender character was seen as a natural thing in the 90s. Besides, Chandler didn't hide his hate for his parent's outfits and makeup and even considered not inviting her to his wedding.
Fat-shaming
Another recurring cringeworthy theme in Friends is fat-shaming. Monica's backstory of being overweight was added to the series exclusively for comic relief. Insulting an overweight character for the sake of a joke might seem unnatural today but in many sitcoms of the past including Friends it was a usual thing.
The One with the Male Nanny
As if being homophobic, transphobic, and anti-fat was not enough, Friends featured some notorious sexist scenes. One of the most popular sexist moments happened in the episode titled The One with the Male Nanny. The plot of the episode revolved around Ross not willing to accept that a man can be a nanny. Ross even went as far as asking his potential male nanny about his sexual preferences. This episode was highly problematic and is frowned upon by many modern viewers.
Ben & Barbie
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There were several other times when Ross' masculinity issues got the best of him. In one of the most notable scenes, Ross had a problem with his son Ben playing with a Barbie doll. He even tried to switch the doll for an action figure. With a father like this, it wouldn't be surprising if Ben needed therapy for the rest of his life.