Friends producer apologising for trans storyline from 20 years ago.

[Metabigot]

An example of how the narrative is being controlled? Sorry for the pink news link but this has been reported widely

www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/07/08/friends-trans-marta-kauffman-chandler-parent-misgender/

So people have to atone for any wrong think even from 20 years ago now? Even before the trans issue was even on the mainstream radar?

Do we do this with other marginalised groups who have been represented poorly on TV shows or films in the psst? Black characters? Gay characters? Apologise two decades later for doing something which wasn't even a thing then ? ( in this case misgendering).

I remember being thoroughly confused by this storyline as a kid, because the actress was quite clearly a woman.

I’m surprised the creators of The Simpsons haven’t had to grovel yet (unless I missed it of course). The episode about gay marriage in Springfield from 2005 was on yesterday. Ends with one of Marge’s sisters coming out as a lesbian, introducing her new “wife” to be, who turns out to be a transwoman, who had lied about his sex to play in a women’s golf tournament and lied to Patty (I think). Patty then dumps him at the alter because she’s a lesbian and only likes women.

I remember that storyline how have they got away with it for so long! Or is it because no-one would be stupid enough to take on the Simpsons

While NYC was whiter in the 1990s than it is today, it was already a multicultural city and had been for a generation, so I do think that watching the show you may get a misleading impression. However, relationships between people of different "racial" backgrounds were significantly rare in the 1990s than it is today.

On the term "father" and the male pronouns, surely whether you agree with them or not, these were what were in use at the time. To have done otherwise would have been anachronistic and confusing, and you'd have probably needed a time machine so that you could go back there from now and explain how they ought to be doing things according to today's standards. Were there contemporaneous complaints about how Chandler's father was represented?

I thought if anything they may reflect on why they didn't use a Transwoman actress for the part (in the same way other film makers have said they should have used a deaf/blind/mute etc actor for relevant roles).

Why would they have used a transwoman for the part? Charles Bing was a man, not a transwoman.

Charles Bing was also Chandler’s father. He was a he.

Not at all surprised that Kaufmann has to go along with this, though - everyone has to suppress their real thoughts / the truth and toe the trans line. Real think isn’t allowed anymore - dissent must be silenced.

Saw this yesterday, totally ridiculous. The character was a drag queen and Chandler called him Dad. He was not supposed to be a transwoman. Plus nobody had the foggiest idea about all this pronouns nonsense back then.

The woman’s public recanting is embarrassing. Who cares. It was a funny joke that they got Jessica Rabbit in to play a dude. The character as far as I recall never claimed to be a woman.

Are they still broadcasting the episodes with Chandler's dad?

This whole thing isn't really about what happened back then, it's an attempt to control people's language now (in particular trans widows and our children).

Yes - why wouldn't they?

Sackcloth and ashes! Have you not read the thread?

Well exactly. Note the reference to an employee being dismissed (from a current show she's working on) as they joked about a transwoman.

Now this could have been genuine harassment in which case fair does. But the message it sends is a strong one.

Do we do this with other marginalised groups who have been represented poorly on TV shows or films in the psst? Black characters? Gay characters? Apologise two decades later for doing something which wasn't even a thing then ?

Ermmm... yes?

Never plain old women though right?
Like Glenn Close being the wanton woman in fatal attraction whilst Michael Douglas's character gets all the sympathy despite not being able to keep his dick in his pants.

Fat Monica certainly hasn't worn well either.

Is endowed the latest fancy word for bought in US Higher Education?

Now what I think would be worth apologising for is the amount the series normalises porn.
Friends has a new generation of followers. It's really big with preteens and early teens, so I would really want to get out the message that actually porn(and strippers, lapdancers etc) are not beingn, seeing as we can now see where that casual attitude led us.
It's largely sexist and homophobic as well, putting trans issues at the bottom of the apology pile.

@XenaKeyboardWarriorPrincess

Totally agree. That always dismayed me.

You asked the question , OP, and I answered it. Plenty of series have latterly apologised for representations . For example, The Simpsons and Appu.

It's not a new thing.Gone With The Wind massively sanitised the details from Mitchell's novel do to distance the film from Klan sentiments. That was in 1939. Then, a few years ago, there was an apology for the representation of Hattie McDaniel's character.

I think everyone would agree that many texts have not aged well. I am certain American Beauty will not be screened again.

That's weird though when you consider the other films out there that are still considered worthwhile.

People atone and apologise for actions from a long time ago all the time, even if they weren't seen as problematic at the time. Get over it.

Also, racism, sexism, and other -isms, have always been "a thing". Did you think they were only invented within the past few years? 😂

are they sorry enough to give the money back

It wasn't great at the time. The first time I watched it, it made me furious that Fat Monica was inexplicably more stupid than Thin Monica.

But I think we'll be waiting a very, very long time for anyone to apologise for the fat shaming.

The answer to this is yes, they have also apologised for the homophobia on the show and lack of racial diversity as well.

www.fm104.ie/news/buzz/friends-creator-apologises-for-lack-of-diversity-in-the-show/