Here is why Gen Z is calling the popular sitcom Friends problematic

In the TV sitcom Friends Ross Geller explains lsquounagirsquo as the state of total awareness Ironically according to Gen Z the show ends up missing that point A recent comment by its cast member Jennifer Aniston who played Rachel Green claimed that a whole generation of kids find the sitcom offensiveChandlerrsquos parents at his wedding Pics courtesyYouTubeHer reaction caused a furore on the Internet across many standpoints In a woke culture youngsters openly resent brazen homophobia sexism fatphobia and the lack of inclusivity and diversity on the show The fact that the show is problematic and offensive is unquestionable A few Mumbaibased GenZers share their take on this commentYes it has issuesAyushi Khetan 21 studentI was offended by Monicarsquos fatshaming because it hit close to home Her friends teased her about that phase Her OCD a result of the insecurity of her losing control was mocked at These insecurities continued to exist even after she lost weight The lesbian wedding was huge but there were homophobic jokes across that episode When Chandlerrsquos father was introduced as a transwoman they didnrsquot address her as lsquoherrsquo which was problematic When I first watched the show I wasnrsquot too aware of the LGBTQiA community Despite such problems Friends was ahead of its time and is my favouriteNot for meJanhavi Kankaria 21 CAaspirantThe show lacks diversity You will find pretty white characters with the ideal body type There is also a lot of systematic homophobia Take Ross for example whose wife comes out to him as a lesbian Their son is raised by two women his exwife and her current partner Ross loses it over his fiveyearold son playing with a doll He convinces himself that because the boy is being raised by women he is being forced to play with a Barbie doll and not lsquomanly toysrsquo Chandlerrsquos character is entirely based on homophobia he feels humiliated by his fatherrsquos lifestyle As a result he mistreats his father and gets offended every time he is called lsquogayrsquoNo one size fits allAnson Thomas 27 copywriterIt is important to call the show out for its problems I agree that there was a complete lack of diversity Apart from one AfricanAmerican character of Rossrsquo girlfriend in the latter part of the show there is zero representation of diverse races But you also have to consider the generation it was made in and the information they had access to when it was made There was limited Internet access back then which also meant that the creators were not as informed as we are todayThe Friends cast in the episode The one where Chandler takes a bath Pic courtesyInstagramThe Americans were aware of the LQBTQiA community but that didnrsquot necessarily mean that everyone had begun to accept them If todayrsquos generation finds the show offensive the next generation will find the romanticisation of mental health by Gen Z just as offensive Every generation has its views of what is acceptable and what isnrsquot Such shows were made for the people of that generationSilver liningPearl Shah 21 graphic designerI have watched the show over 15 times During the lockdown it was my escape room There were a few objectionable scenes but I never paid attention to them If the show was to be made today it would be very different I have always looked at its positive aspects For example in one scene Monica says ldquoWelcome to the real world It sucks Yoursquore gonna love itrdquo Ross had three failed marriages before he turned 30 But his friends were always by his side and he accepted it eventually The show taught me that itrsquos okay for your life to fall apart and make mistakes We can find happiness in small things Another example is Rachel She lived off her fatherrsquos money and her only goal was to get married until she met friends who pushed her to become independent She struggled to make it big This taught me that sometimes though not always you have to do things you donrsquot want to You have to keep going Honestly I find the entire show really funny