The Shocking Truth Behind The 2 Friends Episodes Banned in the 90s!

Friends, one of the most iconic shows of the 1990s, has a lasting legacy. However, two of its episodes faced controversial bans from being aired. Over the course of 10 seasons, Friends follows the hilarious and often chaotic lives of Ross, Chandler, Joey, Rachel, Phoebe, and Monica as they navigate adulthood and love in 1990s New York. While the sitcom has given us countless memorable moments that are now firmly established in pop culture, there are a few episodes that have divided opinions.

Despite being adored by fans, Friends had two episodes that received bans, suggesting that not every storyline was universally praised. Although the majority of the show's 236 episodes offer harmless comedy, certain authorities viewed these two specific episodes in a different light, resulting in their controversial exclusion from TV airings. Looking back, the reasons for these bans may seem trivial, but they did not hinder the significance and popularity of these episodes. In fact, they are still regarded as some of the best and most noteworthy moments in the history of Friends.

One Friends Episode Was Banned For Being Too Explicit

Friends’ fourth season is known for its memorable plots, but in the UK, one storyline stands out for the wrong reasons. In season 4, episode 17, titled “The One With The Free Porn,” the show explores two major storylines. One involves Phoebe discovering that she is expecting triplets as a surrogate for her brother. The other storyline centers around Ross and Emily confessing their love for each other, which becomes significant throughout the rest of the season. However, it is the subplot of Chandler and Joey stumbling upon a free pornography channel on their TV that caused controversy in the UK.

While the episode is harmless in all other aspects, “The One With The Free Porn” faced censorship and bans in the UK due to its frequent references to pornography. As a result, the episode premiered in a late-night time slot. Furthermore, it was rarely syndicated in the UK, with any explicit content on Joey and Chandler's TV being censored. Therefore, although Friends is commonly syndicated on TV nowadays, this particular episode is unlikely to be aired in the UK.

One Friends Episode Was Banned Due To LGBTQ+ Prejudice

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"The One With The Lesbian Wedding," an episode from Friends season 2, gained significant attention and sparked controversy when it first aired in 1996. This episode depicted Ross' ex-wife Carol and her partner getting married, presenting one of the first lesbian weddings on television. While Ross initially struggled with his mixed feelings about Carol's remarriage, he eventually comes around and even walks her down the aisle when her parents disapprove of her choice. Despite the episode ending on a positive note, its portrayal of an LGBTQ+ wedding unfortunately resulted in bans in certain regions of the United States. Despite these bans, "The One With The Lesbian Wedding" became one of the most-watched television episodes, garnering 31.6 million viewers and solidifying its significance in the Friends series.