{
  "id": 8533860,
  "title": "5 Creepy Friends Storylines That 100% Don't Hold Up Today",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/5-creepy-friends-storylines-that-100-dont-hold-up-today",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T20:52:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2260066/creepy-friends-storylines-dont-hold-up-today/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Five storylines from the sitcom Friends that would not be acceptable in modern times are examined. In Season 10's \"The One Where the Stripper Cries,\" Ross accidentally kisses Monica while believing Rachel is passed out drunk. The writers were aware of this creepy situation, but in a post-Me Too era, the scene would likely be altered to avoid such predatory behavior. In Season 8's \"The One With the Rumor,\" Monica reveals a high school rumor that Ross made out with the school librarian, an old woman, which would today be seen as predatory. The Paddy's Pub gang handled this situation more maturely than Friends. A major cultural shift has made people suspicious of large age gaps, making it difficult to imagine Ross dating one of his college students in a 2020s Friends. Although Monica's relationship with Richard, who knew her as a child, is awkward, she is not the one who comes off poorly. In a modern Friends, the Monica/Richard relationship likely would have been toned down, and Charles Bing as a drag queen would have likely been referred to as a trans woman.",
  "summary": "Despite holding up fairly well, Friends can be a challenge to get through these days thanks to some particularly problematic and downright creepy episodes.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ross accidentally kissing Monica in 10x05 would be considered predatory today.",
    "Monica's high school rumor about Ross making out with a librarian in 8x06 is now seen as predatory."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}