In an interview, the actress explains why she recognizes problematic punch lines, especially in “Friends”
US actress Zoë Kravitz criticized the humor in the “Friends” series as “Super Homophob”. It thus joined a number of allegations that denounced jokes about the LGBTQ+community and a lack of diversity in the well-known sitcom.
Recommendations of the editorial team
During an interview with “People”, for the doctorate of her new film “Caught Stealing”, which plays in 1998, she was asked which aspects of that time she was happy that she would be behind us. “Super homophobic jokes on mainstream television,” she replied. “If you look at ‘Friends’ today, you think: Wow.” Her co-star Austin Butler then asked: “Wow, even in ‘Friends’?” What Kravitz replied: “Oh, in ‘Friends’ even special. Things that are actually not punch lines become punch lines. That is crazy.”
“Friends” under fire: lack of diversity and clichés
Last year, actress Aisha Tyler also criticized that the composition of the occupation in “Friends” had reflected the attitude at the time that “only selling stories with white actors”. This reported “NME”.
Criticism was also expressed in the way in which the series is dealt with, for example when Chandler (Matthew Perry) feared that he is perceived as a gay, or when it comes to his transgender parent (played by Kathleen Turner).
In the interview, however, she did not reveal which aspects of the Zoë Kravitz series particularly homophobic.
Controversy reaction: David Schwimmer defends the sitcom
In 2020, David Schwimmer, who played in the Ross series, welded the criticism back according to “NME”. The series was “groundbreaking” for its time.
“Friends” is cult?
To understand: “Friends” is an American sitcom that was produced from 1994 to 2004. Shortly after the start, the series in the USA was a great success. The actors Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Leblanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer became stars. Today the Sitcom International is considered a cult series.