Homophobia, Sexism & Body Shaming! 13 Moments From FRIENDS You Didn't Realise Were Problematic

If you are a millennial, you have probably binged watched FRIENDS several times. We laughed, we cried and we grew up with Ross, Monica, Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler.

The show might have been very progressive at the time when it first aired in 1994, but if you watch it today, there are some moments that will make you uncomfortable. There's sexism, homophobia, body-shaming and more.?

Here are some of the moments from FRIENDS that we didn't realize were problematic, or perhaps, we chose to ignore.

1. Monica was body shamed.?

The jokes were on Monica's body weight. From fat sister jokes to awkward dance parties, Fat Monica became a butt of jokes on the show, only because she was fat. Her own parents constantly shamed her about job, looks and weight. Perhaps, no show ever has fat-shamed a character more than Friends body-shaming teenage Monica.?

2. Chandler's dad was ridiculed for being a drag queen.

In this particular scene, there were a lot of offensive one-liners. Chandler and Monica were uncomfortable around transgender, gays and queers. "Don't you have a little too much penis to be wearing a dress like that?" that's what Nora, Chandler's mom says to Charles Bing.?

3. Nannies are either female or gay!?

When Rachel hires a nanny for Ross' baby, and a male nanny turns up, Ross assumes he is gay, because nannies are always females.

4.?Boys freaked out seeing Carol breastfeed baby Ben.?

They didn't gross out, they grossed us out.?"Would you guys relax? This is the most beautiful and natural thing in the world," says Ross to which Joey responds, "Yeah we know, but there’s a baby suckin’ on it," says Joey.?

Breastfeeding is natural. There is nothing gross about it. Joey was just being immature.

5. Phoebe flashes to win a game of football.?

Because women couldn't have otherwise won, right? They don't know anything about sports. They will have to flash to win. This was pure sexist.

6. Tag was called gay so women don't pursue him.??

Spreading lies about sexual orientation, Rachel tells everyone in her office that Tag is gay, just so women won't pursue him. Wasn't that harassment?

7.?Paolo grabbed Phoebe's butt.?

That's sexual harassment at work, and not a joke to be laughed?at, right?

8. Joey often objectified women with no shame.??

In one of the Thanksgiving episodes Ross asks, "Hey, Joey, are men ever nice to strange women for no reason?" To this, Joey, responds, "No, only for sex." Furthermore, they both look for ways to trick women into sleeping with them.??

9. Ross normalised harassment.

In one of the episodes, Rachel wants Ross to turn around as she changes her dress. She has hurt her rib before a fancy event and asks Ross to help her get ready. He refuses to turn around because, "Rach, I can see you naked any time I want, all I have to do is close my eyes."??

10. Chandler broke up with a girl because she was "fat".?

He ended up calling her elephant.

11.?Ross tries to hook up with his cousin because he "hadn't had sex in a long time".

Ross tries to have sex with his first cousin and his excuse it that he hasn't had sex in a long time. Would you ever be comfortable around such men??

12.?Ross pretended to be a licensed masseur to hit on a girl he likes.

That isn't funny. That is creepy. Again, would you be comfortable around such men?

13. Joey was called 'gay' for teaching a man how to dance!

When Joey helped Mr. Treeger learn dance, he was called "gay" by Monica.