Zoë Kravitz has never been afraid to speak her mind, and this time the Batman actress has taken aim at one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time — Friends.
Although the show remains a global favorite nearly three decades after its premiere, Kravitz believes some of its humor hasn’t aged well.
Friends Remains a Pop Culture Phenomenon
First airing in 1994, Friends became a defining show of the 1990s. Its popularity skyrocketed again when it landed on Netflix in 2015, quickly becoming the platform’s second most-streamed show by 2018.
However, when the licensing deal ended in 2020, fans were disappointed to see all 200+ episodes leave Netflix for HBO Max. Despite the move, the sitcom continues to pull in new generations of viewers.
Kravitz on the Darker Side of the ’90s
While promoting her new film Caught Stealing — set in the 1990s — alongside co-star Austin Butler, Kravitz reflected on the highs and lows of the decade.
She expressed nostalgia for the era’s fashion, grunge culture, and New York City vibe, saying:
“I’m really nostalgic for that time… the fashion, all that stuff’s so cool. New York City and the grunge.”
But Kravitz also highlighted what hasn’t aged well — particularly the offensive jokes that made their way into mainstream TV comedies.
“Super homophobic jokes on mainstream television,” she told PEOPLE. “If you watch Friends now, you’re like, ‘Whoa, that’s… wild.’ So maybe that? We can keep that there.”
Austin Butler Agrees
Butler, best known for Elvis, admitted he was shocked by the outdated humor, adding that some of those jokes shouldn’t resurface. Both actors agreed the world should “keep that in the ’90s.”
Even the Creators Regret Some Jokes
Kravitz’s criticism echoes sentiments from Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman. In a 2019 interview with USA Today, Kauffman admitted she often looks back at episodes wishing certain jokes or storylines had been left out.
Reflecting on the lack of awareness at the time, she added:
“I think we didn’t have the knowledge about transgender people back then, so I’m not sure if we used the appropriate terms… I think that’s the biggest one.”
A Beloved Show With a Complicated Legacy
While Friends remains a cultural touchstone, Kravitz’s comments underline a growing conversation about how older sitcoms are perceived through a modern lens. The laughter may live on, but not every joke has aged gracefully.
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