Friends: 15 Controversies Fans Might Not Know

The beloved sitcom Friends is thought of as one of the most greatest shows of all time. Indeed, the groundbreaking series changed the panorama of television perpetually. The sequence turned the solid contributors into overnight celebrities. They all stay stars within the business, despite the fact that their status is now at quite a lot of ranges. The show advanced one of the unswerving fan bases on this planet. Critics praised Friends every week, and it went directly to win a number of awards.

However, Friends hasn’t elderly well through the years. Several jokes and storylines are not appeared upon favorably. In the early 90s, lots of those jokes and plot strains flew beneath the radar. Instead, fans and critics heaped praise at the display. At the same time, all wasn’t peachy at the back of the scenes. There had been several in the back of the scenes controversies that the producers saved quiet.

In the last few years, Friends has come below fire for a number of controversies. Many of the cast contributors even got here forward to speak about the problems. It’s time to take a more in-depth take a look at some of the greatest presentations in historical past.

15 Ross And The Male Nanny

Friends is a groundbreaking series that tackled issues maximum displays didn't. However, the sequence regularly made offensive jokes aimed at the LGBTQ community. The display also featured storylines that mocked the group. For example, Ross did not like Rachel hiring a male nanny, Sandy. Ross felt Sandy was once too sensitive - and not a man - for being a nanny.

14 Jennifer Aniston Almost Didn’t Return For The Final Season

Each cast member was a large big name due to the good fortune of Friends. However, Jennifer Aniston reached a degree of superstar that the other actors didn’t. Indeed, Aniston’s movie occupation used to be setting out against the top of the series. Jennifer was so busy, she virtually didn’t return for the general season. She used to be in a position to go back after the manufacturers reduce the episodes from 24 to 18.

Related: Jennifer Aniston Said No To SNL Alongside Adam Sandler To Become Part Of Friends

13 Andre Agassi Was Extremely Jealous When Brooke Shields Guest-Starred

Brooke Shields guest-starred on Friends, within the episode, “The One After The Superbowl". She portrayed a crazy fan stalking Joey - she licks his fingers in one scene. However, the real drama was behind the scenes. Shields' then-husband, tennis player Andre Agassi, lost his mind when Shields had to lick Matt LeBlanc’s fingers. He destroyed his Wimbledon trophies during a heated argument with Shields.

12 Phoebe And Chandler Weren’t Supposed To Be Main Characters

It’s safe to say Friends wouldn’t be the same without Chandler and Phoebe. At first, the show was going to be about the other four characters, with Chandler and Phoebe taking on secondary roles. They were simply going to be the comic relief. Of course, that changed after the casting process. Chandler and Phoebe became two of the most popular characters.

11 Elliot Gould Upset The Producers When He Spoiled The Season Four Finale

In the season four finale, Ross famously says Rachel’s name when marrying Emily. Indeed, the series is known for its twist endings. However, Elliot Gould spoiled the surprise. Gould portrayed Jack Geller in the show. During an interview before the finale aired, Gould revealed the twist ending. The producers were furious that he would make such a slip-up.

10 The Cast Hated The Joey And Rachel Romance

Friends featured several popular romances. However, there was one love story that most people hated. At one point, Joey and Rachel develop feelings for each other. However, fans and the cast hated the storyline. Matt LeBlanc and Jennifer Aniston both fought the writers on the storyline and got it dropped.

9 Ross Tries To Get Close To His Cousin, Cassie

Ross Geller made a lot of questionable decisions. Indeed, he did a few things that could land him in jail or worse. For instance, Ross once dated one of his students, which is wrong on so many levels. Of course, nothing tops the time he thought his cousin Cassie was hot and tried to get close to her. To be fair, Denise Richards portrayed Cassie.

8 Chandler And Monica Bomb On A Play Storyline Cut After 9/11

In the season eight premiere, Chandler and Monica go on their honeymoon, but another newlywed couple upstages them at every point. Originally, the show wrote and shot a completely different storyline.

Initially, Chandler and Monica are detained at the airport after Chandler jokes about bombs on a plane. However, the 9/11 attacks occurred shortly after filming. The producers felt the storyline was inappropriate and had it changed at the last minute.

7 NBC Anticipated Hate Mail Because Of Carol And Susan’s Wedding

Critics and fans often praise Friends for Carol and Susan’s relationship. However, it’s not without controversy. Indeed, Ross’s perception of the couple was often murky. NBC anticipated a great deal of fan backlash when the couple married. They ended up getting only four pieces of hate mail. Of course, fans now notice that Susan and Carol don’t kiss at the end of the ceremony.

6 Monica Mocked For Being Overweight In Her Younger Days

One of the show’s running jokes throughout the entire series is Monica being overweight when she was younger. Indeed, Courteney Cox even throws on a fat suit to portray a younger Monica. Despite losing all the weight, her friends still mock her. Ross and Chandler can’t help but make fun of her every chance they get.

5 The Cast Stuck Together During Salary Negotiations Which Upset The Producers

The stars of Friends were the first solid participants to stick together during contract negotiations. David Schwimmer got here up with the idea to shape an alliance and command the same amount. The producers found it frustrating at times and even called the demands “ridiculous”, according to Ranker. Eventually, each cast member earned $1 million per episode.

4 Matthew Perry’s Personal Struggles

Matthew Perry became a household name with his portrayal of Chandler Bing. However, Perry struggled with substance abuse. He had serious addiction issues behind the scenes. His physical appearance and weight fluctuated noticeably throughout the series. Perry also had a stint in rehab between seasons. Today, he continues to struggle with substance abuse and addiction.

Related: An Inside Look At How Chandler From Friends Was Affected By Mathew Perry’s Struggles

3 Lack Of Diversity

As noted, the groundbreaking series, Friends, changed television and dealt with a wide range of subjects. However, one issue that critics point out now is the lack of diversity in the cast. Indeed, the six best friends live in New York but rarely run into a person of color. Of course, Ross dates Julie, Kristen, and Charlie, although they’re the only characters of color and they play minor roles.

2 Chandler’s Father

Chandler’s father, Charles Bing/Helena Handbasket, is transgender and was one of the first trans characters on a prominent show. The show gets praised and criticized for Chandler’s father. Chandler’s father was often the butt of the joke. Indeed, Chandler was ashamed of his father and didn’t want to invite Helena to his wedding.

Related: 15 Surprising BTS Facts About Chandler On Friends

1 Living Single vs. Friends

Fans often notice similarities between the two series and many credit Living Single with creating the template that Friends used.

Some fans accuse the Friends creators of stealing the series concept from Living Single. The creators deny the claim and note that they based the series on their lives.

Next: These Are The Best Friends Episodes Ever Made, According To IMDB

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