Friends is one of those shows that is almost always on TV, a familiar 90’s sitcom is just like a comfort food that you can always turn to.
It is probably one of the most known series, and that is the reasons that millions of fans were thrilled when it was announced that it would be coming to Netflix.
However, excitement quickly died down when people began to binge watch the show and found that it was more problematic than they remembered from previous sporadic watching.
Viewers have taken to Twitter in swarms to complain about the homophobic, transphobic and misogynistic storylines that litter the ten seasons.
One of the ongoing plots that had slipped many people’s minds is Chandler’s relationship with his dad, who is transgender.
Chandler refuses to recognise her gender identity, using the dead name “Charles” rather than “Helena Handbasket”.
He also pretends to become physically sick when they go to watch him perform on stage.
“We don’t talk enough about how Chandler had 2 moms,” one person wrote on Twitter. “It was erased because Chandler was a homophobe and a transphobe, so he still called her his “dad”?”
People also took aim at Ross, who berates his son Ben for playing with a Barbie doll and assumes that the male nanny hired by Rachel is gay.
“I was just watching the friends male nanny episode and Ross is so rude and homophobic and problematic I hate him,” one person wrote.
Another added: “I’m on season 8 of Friends. I’m here to tell you, they are all trash people and really bad friends. First of all, the show is constantly homophobic & misogynistic for the lols.”
A third wrote: “Virtually every episode of Friends features a homophobic joke, the 90s were wild.”
“Re-watching “Friends” on @netflix is very enjoyable, but MY GOD was Ross Gellar a misogynistic homophobe,” a separate person said.
The show also ran a long-running storyline which joked that Chandler is gay, making him the butt of the joke.
A video featuring all the homophobic moments lasts a whopping 50 minutes.
The spike in modern-day viewers calling the show offensive is grounded in fact – the lack of a diverse cast and insensitivity towards LGBTQ topics are misguided.
However, many older fans are arguing that in the 90’s the conversation around homophobia and transphobia was not as prominent – and big American sitcoms like Friends could get away with the plots now considered less than sophisticated.
Certainly, if you watch any show from 20 years ago it isn’t going to live up to today’s expectations.
Friends should also be credited for trying to convey some positive messages, including the same-sex wedding between Ross’s ex-wife and her partner.
The episode was so controversial that it was banned from being aired in some states in America.
Either way, now that Netflix is hosting the show, they will always be there for you.
