Regarding the manner in which mainstream media during those days blithely handled LGBTQ characters and identities, Kravitz is adamant that she could never want to return.
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The ’90s may be back in fashion, but Zoë Kravitz believes not everything from that decade deserves a comeback, especially homophobic jokes from popular sitcom FRIENDS.
The ‘Big Little Lies’ star recently admitted that she often feels nostalgic for the energy of the 1990s. From music to street style, and especially the New York City grunge scene, Kravitz says there’s plenty about that era she’d happily revisit.
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“I’m truly nostalgic for that period,” she said to PEOPLE. “The style, the attitude, New York City in the ’90s. It was really cool.”
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But regarding the manner in which mainstream media during those days blithely handled LGBTQ characters and identities, Kravitz is adamant that she could never want to return.
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“Super homophobic humor on TV? Let’s leave those where they are,” she said. “If you watch ‘Friends’ today, you’re like, ‘Whoa.'”
She surprised Butler by asking if even ‘Friends’, which is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, was guilty of their homophobic jokes.
Kravitz didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, so much in ‘Friends’. Like, things that aren’t even written as jokes were treated like punchlines. It’s wild.”
The sitcom, which aired from 1994-2004, still draws new viewers through reruns and streaming. To many, it’s still the epitome of a cozy comfort show.
But LGBTQ advocates have long highlighted the ways in which some of its plotlines were deeply problematic.
Another frequent example is Ross’s ex-wife Carol and her girlfriend Susan. Although their on-screen relationship was pioneering in its day for showing a lesbian couple on primetime television, much of their screen time was presented in the form of jokes against them.
The season two episode that includes their wedding, which had the potential to be a strong moment of representation, instead relied heavily on punchlines that made fun of the relationship.
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Another touchy area is Chandler’s parent, a trans woman, who was consistently mocked throughout the series. The character was merely called Chandler’s “dad,” and the scripts habitually drew on her identity as the punchline.
Even the writers and actors themselves have since regretted it. In 2022, co-creator Marta Kauffman acknowledged that the treatment of the character was inappropriate.
We continued to call her Chandler’s father, even though Chandler’s father was trans,” she added. “Pronouns weren’t yet something I knew. That was a mistake.”
Actress Kathleen Turner, who acted in the role, has also stated the plot hasn’t stood the test of time.
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