This Friends Episode Was Banned in Parts of the US for the Dumbest Reason Ever
Can you guess which episode stirred controversy?
As a highly popular sitcom, Friends typically went for the most simple, funny, and relatable situations to picture, but sometimes, the show was apparently getting too… progressive for some viewers' liking.
When you recall the many various episodes of Friends, you don't usually describe them as "progressive," "bold," or "revolutionary," do you? Still, for some people, the show was exactly that — and they didn't want it to be aired in their parts of the United States. Crazy as it may sound, one episode even got banned in some areas!
As much as we'd love to build some suspense and intrigue before telling you the reason behind the ban, the very name of S2 Episode 11 — "The One with the Lesbian Wedding" — answers this question. This episode did not just picture a lesbian wedding, though… It was the very first such depiction on television ever!
As Friends fans may remember, in "The One with the Lesbian Wedding," it was Ross' ex-wife Carol and her new partner making their feelings official. Even though Ross was heartbroken after their divorce and hated Carol's newly found sexuality, he accepted the situation eventually, attended the event, and even walked his ex down the aisle.
The episode led to a full-blown controversy in the more conservative areas of the States, resulting in bans on several US network affiliates. However, the cold reception from parts of the audience didn't exactly ruin the run of "The One with the Lesbian Wedding," but actually made it one of the most watched TV episodes ever, with 31.6 million people tuning in to see the episode live.
Curiously enough, this was the only Friends episode ever banned in the US, but in the UK, a similar situation occurred two seasons later when S4 Episode 17, titled "The One with the Free Porn," was banned in the country. As you might have guessed from the title, in the episode, Chandler and Joey found a free adult channel on TV.
Although the episode also gave viewers updates on two vital storylines — Phoebe's pregnancy and Ross and Emily's relationship — "The One with the Free Porn" had big troubles airing and was partially censored in the UK. Even today, you won't really see this episode streamed on most British channels.