'Friends' & More Series Where Scenes Would be Problematic Today

Fat shaming was prevalent in the TV show 'Friends,' as well as in various other series. It involved making repetitive jokes and using scenes from "Monica's" past, where she was portrayed as being overweight, as gags at her expense. Unfortunately, this type of body shaming was not limited to just 'Friends,' but could be found in other shows as well.

'Sex and the City' also featured instances of fat shaming, notably in the memorable scene from the second film. In that scene, "Samantha's" friends react with shock and horror upon seeing her with a few extra kilos. Unfortunately, this body-shaming behavior extends beyond that particular moment in the series. It can also be observed in other shows, such as...

In 'Gilmore Girls,' there are regrettable instances of body-shaming, mainly perpetuated by "Lorelai" and "Rory". One particularly notorious and unpleasant scene occurs when the mother-daughter pair lounges by the pool, engaging in mocking comments about other individuals' bodies. It is important to acknowledge that such behavior would not be well-received in today's society

Homophobia is indeed present in certain instances within 'Gilmore Girls,' with "Luke", a generally likable character, being the main offender. He frequently makes comments about someone's perceived level of gayness, with his nephew "Jess" bearing the brunt of these remarks. This recurring behavior creates a distressing environment for "Jess", who is subjected to these comments on a regular basis.

'Friends' does indeed contain instances of "Chandler" displaying anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, particularly towards his own father. The series portrays his father first as a drag queen and later as a trans woman. Regrettably, some lines in the script concerning this topic are deeply troubling and reinforce harmful stereotypes. For example, "Chandler's" father is referred to solely as a man in a dress.

'Sex and the City' does exhibit instances of portraying homosexual individuals, particularly gay characters, in a stereotypical manner. This can be seen in characters like "Stanford Blatch" and "Anthony Marantino", whose wedding was depicted in an exaggerated and over-the-top manner, which resulted in the loss of authenticity.

'Sex and the City' does exhibit a recurring theme of portraying stereotypical women from the perspective of white men. The series often highlights an obsession with shopping and an extreme love for shoes, which can be seen as exaggerated and generalized to the point of being almost laughable.

The portrayal of "Mrs. Kim" in 'Gilmore Girls' indeed raises concerns regarding racial stereotypes. As a Korean woman, she is depicted as a typical strict Asian mother. Given that the small town primarily consists of white characters and the limited representation of individuals with immigrant backgrounds, portraying "Mrs. Kim" in such a negative and stereotypical manner is indeed questionable.

'Sex and the City' does exhibit instances of racism, as seen in the first film when the girlfriends travel to Mexico. In that scene, Charlotte's avoidance of unfamiliar food and opting only for pudding perpetuates stereotypes and can be seen as disrespectful. It is also worth noting that 'Sex and the City' has faced criticism for its lack of racial diversity, as the series primarily features a predominantly white cast.

"Ross" from 'Friends' has become one of the most unpopular characters on a show. He is often abusive, enormously jealous and seems to have no respect for women. This is especially evident in his interactions with "Rachel" time and time again. For example, in season three episode 21, he refuses to turn around when "Rachel" wants to change. After all, he said, he had already seen her naked when they were still together, and besides, it was one of his rights as an ex-boyfriend. He even says that all he has to do is close his eyes to see her naked. Gross!