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

I don’t really agree that is was homophobic either.

Most of the group were accepting of Carol and Susan bar Ross (who to be fair was the one who was dumped) and I think it was actually good in how they handled Chandlers dad - it was realistic, a lot of people would probably struggle if their dad turned out to be gay and homosexual and divorce affected him. It’s also heart warming to see him come to terms with it in the end. I think this matter is handled realistically.
Likewise the joke that loads of people think Chandler is gay when they meet him. Well sorry but lots of us jump to stereotypes and wonder when someone has stereotypical characteristics.

The males had some questionable antics in how they treated women. But the three women were also quick to smack them into line for it and tell them they were out of order.

If anything used to annoy me, it was how so much of the group revolved purely around Rosa and his feelings. I liked Rachel and Joey - I’ll go hide in the corner now.

I love Friends. And all the “outrageous” comedies of the past like Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers, Mr Bean, Vicar of Dibley.....I don’t believe we should erase the past. Learn, but why can’t we enjoy something that’s not politically correct once in a while?!

@KimchiLaLa

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

I think op means why hasn't it been cancelled now, because it is offensive by today's standards.

Actually for it’s era it was pretty progressive. The fact they even had lesbians was a huge leap compared to a lot of shows in 1994, especially 2 women being the main care givers to a child.

Because it's incredibly funny! There will always be a generation that grew up with it and loved it (me!), and didn't become raging homophobes, racists etc just because they laughed at a joke on TV. The same way no one decided marriage was a mockery because Ross did it so many times.

I have LGBT friends who loved it because it normalised lesbian relationships and co-parenting without making it a parody.

However, as someone who falls into some of those categories you've mentioned, nothing pi55es me more than people considering me a victim that needs to be wrapped in kid gloves and protected just by virtue of my 'category'. The same way people can laugh at jokes about politicians, or straight people, or able bodies people, or middle class people etc - I would like to be considered mainstream enough to also be included in innocuous, non malicious TV jokes.

There is a difference between malice and humour. Friends was never malicious.

For fuck sake, whatever you do don’t watch Frankie Boyle.

The whole point was that the characters were flawed. It’s how it was created. The attitudes were of the time, and some of it is a little dated, but like us all, they were genuine scripts that were just a little.... well.... flawed.

It was of its time. You could say the same about any old sitcom. Even Father Ted has warnings before its broadcast now.

I agree with op in that it’s very outdated and not politically correct. In a way it’s quite good for teens and young adults to see how things have changed and progressed. Parts of it really make me cringe now but overall I still enjoy the odd episode.

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

I did. How did you know

And do you know, my business hasn’t collapsed and continues to grow month on month.

Oh, also I get up off my arse every day, go to work with a smile on my face, volunteer, look after my neighbours and generally see the positive in every part of life.

It’s comedy. It’s like how Family Guy (the creator is Jewish) makes fun of all stereotypes - different religions, races, sexual orientation etc. I do have issues with films and TV shows that aren’t comedies.

There’s a lot of films and TV shows that aren’t comedies and they still, even in this century, do “yellow face” and portray East Asians as harmful stereotypes. That’s offensive.

@Happymum12345

I agree with op in that it’s very outdated and not politically correct. In a way it’s quite good for teens and young adults to see how things have changed and progressed. Parts of it really make me cringe now but overall I still enjoy the odd episode.

Yep. I watch it with my daughter, we laugh and think it's funny but it's also a great way to discuss unacceptable behaviour/attitudes etc.

Sadly those attitudes are still out in the world and if you can't recognise it you can't protect yourself against it.

Oh for gods sake..where’s everyone’s sense of humour

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 know. Remember how in the 90's everyone started getting pet monkeys just to be like Ross off Friends? No? Me neither.

I don't think it encouraged anyone to keep a wild animal captive, tbh. In fact, it was directly addressed in the show that it was wrong. I'd give you a biscuit but my monkey's eaten them all.

I don’t think the majority of people who watch it and enjoy it think it’s in any way ‘problematic’. The woke are mercifully a tiny minority.
I watched it first time round, but my teenage son and his friends love it.

Leave friends alone!!!!!!! Ffs

I agree, some of the comments now you are abit like oh... awkward. But it’s still funny and warming to watch. If they made a show about life now they would all be sat on their phones and wouldn’t even talk to each other.

At least it's still quite funny and most of them are likeable. Sex And The City is absolutely dreadful now, what a bunch of knobs.

Phoebe: Who is the boss of you?
Rachel: You?

Well, it maybe hasn't been cancelled because the show ended in 2004

You know outside of Twitter there's a real world, full of real people who don't actually care about this "cancel culture" nonsense? I think people who live with their heads in social media struggle to grasp that.

People watch Friends because it's funny and perhaps for a bout of nostalgia. Regardless, your examples are weak for the most part.

I ansolutely loved Friends in the 90s when I was 17/18, found it very funny.

I'm sick to death of it now, largely because it is constantly on tv and I'm sick of the sight of it. The novelty is long gone. I don't find it amusing at all anymore.

*absolutely, even.

People joke about others all the time and it still happens now

I think people sit and watch programmes just to see how they can be offended by them sometimes.