To wonder how Friends has survived 'cancel culture?'

[ChocolateSantaisthebestkind]

Over the course of Christmas/lockdown evenings, we have been watching these again on Netflix and DH and I were both saying we don't know how it has survived unedited some bits are down right uncomfortable to watch now.

1. Treatment of LGBT people

2. Making fun of disability -Ginger's leg episode

3. Phoebe's Childhood

4. Ridicule of foreigners

5. Joey/Ross/ Chandler treatment of women

6. Tag --> Sexual Harrassment at work

7. Gunther Stalker

8. Lack of racial diversity ('fixed' but tokenistically by introduction of Charlie)

9. Ageism

10. Body shaming

I know lots of us loved it back in the day and some episodes are still funny, but it just amazes me that there hasn't been more backlash.

AIBU to be

Urgh.
It’s comedy. It started 25 years ago. Lots of people still enjoy it.
Stop trying to make a big thing of it by nit picking the bits you don’t like.
In short - get a life!

Whatever you do don’t watch Alf Garnet .You might be scarred for life .

Because attitudes like yours are a minority fringe view, not the norm.

Thankfully!

What are the LGBT bits you mention?

Not being goady- just trying to rack my brains where that bit came up

Channel 5 shows it and has edited out some of the more problematic dialogue/parts which is a shame tbh. Yes, it might not have aged well, but it is still great television.

I think I'm going to award my first ever in honour of fat Monica

My teenagers are hooked on it now. With the LBQT aspect wasn't that the point that they took piss out of him for not be reasonable. I found it ground changing at the time etc and provoking for discussion at the time and now, it covers a wide range on topics and talking points from what might be construed as OCD, child abuse etc

Such a dull op there is loads of stuff about this online already!! Can you not understand that people behaved differently 20/30 years ago?

Because people understand it was of it's time?

I was watching Only Fools and Horses the other day, the episode in the bomb shelter, and Del said a horrible racist word. I was so shocked I actually winced! But we didn't know then (as a society) what we know now. It's actually quite nice to watch those old programmes and see how far we've come.

Even at the time I found Ross having a pet monkey very odd. I know he rehomed it eventually but it did normalise it for a while and I don’t think the captivity of wild animals should ever been encouraged. Likewise the keeping of birds in a flat.

I think the constant fat shaming of the young Monica was never that funny.

People better leave Friends alone...it's a great show for those who can just laugh at themselves and others with no malice intended.

@SoggyBiscuitss

What are the LGBT bits you mention?

Not being goady- just trying to rack my brains where that bit came up

I expect the main one is Chandler's dad (who had an affair with Mr Garibaldi, ran off with the houseboy, has a drag show 'Viva Las Gaygas' in Las Vegas and is either a transvestite or has had a sex change - they never really clarify his actual status), and is played by Kathleen Turner.

I make no apology for my love of Friends.

Poor fat Monica is barely overweight by today's standards.

I think it's still so aspirational in a way, the idea of living in NYC in a huge apartment with an amazing group of friends who stick by you thick and thin.

I love friends
I do remember a year or so ago when it was put into Netflix there was lots of complaints from the teenager/young 20s generation offended by everything as always.

People like you are everything that is wrong with today’s society.

Permanently offended, always looking for something to complain about.

Although you like to shout a lot. Thang god you don’t represent the majority.

I don't think I've made myself clear. People seem to think I am saying it should be cancelled, I'm not. I'm just surprised that given other things have context and content warnings on these days (See Iplayer for example), I'm surprised there has been no moves to edit or do the same to friends. It seems bigger than ever, but it is no less problematic than other things that have been ripped to shreds. Also, I said in the OP that I loved it back in the day and some episodes are still funny. However, some episodes are uncomfortable now, I think.

@mygenericusername I would say +rude and hostile people like you are more problematic, than people wondering idly about something and asking and listening to others' opinions but hey ho.

@LaMarschallin

TJ17

Oh dear god has the world gotten this bad that we are now gonna start picking apart Friends ffs.

Are we allowed anything nice anymore ?!!!!!!!!

"Can't a guy send a barbershop quartet to his girlfriend's office any more?!!!"

@LaMarschallin you are my people

Because ‘cancel culture’ isn’t really a thing. It’s ‘ ‘Twitter storm’ BS where a couple of people complain about something (people have always complained about things but haven’t had a platform), some journalist who’s job is to scan social media notices two people with 5 followers combined is upset about something, writes about it with the headline featuring ‘storm’ giving it attention and then like magic a culture war has been ignited with opinion pieces and thousands of people on opposing sides involved. It’s as pathetic as it is obvious.

All of this.

Who and what has actually been cancelled?

I think OP is crowd sourcing a very shit BuzzFeed listicle

Because cancel culture and social media didn't exist when it aired?! Christ, this thread....

I get you OP.

I wonder this myself. Particularly because they seem to have cut some things, but kept in, arguably, the most offensive.

The gay jokes, in particular, are relentless in many episodes. I think it was quite shocking even back then.

But...nobody on the show was saying Phoebe's childhood was the perfect childhood!

Also I don't know why mocking a person who is in a group suddenly becomes mocking that whole group, e.g. mocking Treiger = body shaming, mocking Heckles = ageist. They were just mocking them like they mocked everybody!

I don’t understand why some of the responses on here are so rude.

I love Friends, but anyone with half a brain and any sensitivity can see some aspects of the show have dated badly. It’s been discussed loads.

The Ross/Rachel relationship is emotionally abusive. He gaslights her about sleeping with another woman. Doesn’t get an annulment and lies to her about it. He tries to stop her dating when pregnant because she’s a vessel for his child.

The treatment of Emily is terrible. Ross said another woman’s name at the altar. Then went on their honeymoon with that woman. Then somehow Emily comes out of that as the ‘crazy, controlling’ one - because she doesn’t forgive him and let it go straightaway.

Ross’ treatment of Mona is also appalling.

Joey is downright creepy.

The depiction of a transgender person - and in particular the references to their genitals - is disrespectful.

The comments about people thinking Chandler is gay (as though it’s a bad thing).

There are only two significant non-white characters in the whole show.

Monica is fat-shamed.

Honestly, you can enjoy a show and still recognise the problematic bits. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.

Like a lot of now ended TV series, Friends was a product of its time. We shouldn't view old shows with new eyes. All we would do is moan about it.....

People like you are everything that is wrong with today’s society.

Permanently offended, always looking for something to complain about.

Although you like to shout a lot. Thang god you don’t represent the majority.

Haven’t you read the OP’s posts?

You voted for Brexit didn’t you? Just a hunch.