Friends fans may be surprised to learn that the original script featured a joke about Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) being gay, which was eventually cut.
Later this week, the original cast of the classic hit sitcom are set to reunite in Friends: The Reunion, with Matt being joined by his co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer as they reminisce on the good old days.
While many fans are extremely excited to see the gang get back together, the reunion has received backlash for its failure to include any Black celebrity guest stars in the special, which is being hosted by James Corden.
Friends has been criticised in the past over various aspects of the show, including lack of diversity in the cast, sexist dialogue and fat-shaming – with some people labelling certain plot points ‘homophobic’ and ‘problematic’.
It appears that a memorable episode was supposed to include a reference to Joey possibly being gay, with the aspiring actor known for his womanising ways in the series.
In The One With Ross’s Wedding, the two-part finale for season four which aired in 1998, Rachel Green (Jennifer) decides to stay in New York with a very pregnant Phoebe Buffay (Lisa) rather than travel to London to attend the wedding of her ex Ross Geller (David) and Emily Waltham (Helen Baxendale).
When Phoebe points out that Rachel isn’t going to the wedding because she still has feelings for Ross, she replies: ‘Phoebe, I’m not going to Ross’s wedding because he is my ex-boyfriend and that would be really uncomfortable. Not because I’m still in love with him.
‘I mean, hey, y’know, I like Ross as much as the next guy, y’know? Clearly I have feelings for him, but feelings don’t mean love. I mean, I still have loving feelings for Ross. Yeah! I have continuing feelings of love, but that doesn’t mean that I’m still in love with him. I have sexual feelings for him, but I do love him. Oh! Oh my God! Why didn’t you tell me?’
At this point, Phoebe states: ‘We thought you knew!’, continuing by explaining: ‘Yeah, we all know! We talk about it all the time… It’s so obvious! God, that would be like telling Monica, “Hey, you like things clean.”‘
However, according to a book of the original script, Phoebe was also supposed to say: ‘Or, “Hey, Joey, you’re gay”,’ as reported by Grazia.
In June 2019, Friends star Jane Sibbett, who played Ross’ first wife Carol Willick, defended the show over its portrayal of her character’s relationship with Susan (Jessica Hecht).
Speaking to Today, she said: ‘We were never poking fun at being gay.
‘We were poking fun at a person who didn’t get it, who was uncomfortable with the concept of us being together.’
‘And that was the great beauty; the great truth in that the joke’s on the people that don’t get it,’ she added. ‘That this is all about love.’
In February 2018, Matt defended Friends over claims of homophobia and fat-shaming, telling the BBC: ‘I’ve heard those rumours too about people taking pot shots at Friends, but I don’t want to get into that. I disagree with all that.’
He continued: ‘On Friends we steered clear of that kind of thing, too. Friends was about themes that stand the test of time – trust, love, relationships, betrayal, family and things like that.’
Friends: The Reunion is set to air on May 27 at 8pm on Sky One and will be available from 8am on demand on Sky and NOW.
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