Jennifer Aniston says comedians have to be 'careful' after realising people now find Friends ‘offensive’
Jennifer Aniston has spoken out about the state of comedy and how younger audiences are much more sensitive to things these days.
Being a part of a hit sitcom back in the 1990s, Aniston is well aware of how writers and actors craft and weave jokes into the plot.
However, she admits that is becoming increasingly 'tricky' as the youth of today might get upset by what they see or hear on the screen.
The 54-year-old is in the middle of promoting her new comedy movie with Adam Sandler, Murder Mystery 2, and highlights how everyone has to keep up with the changing nature of the world.
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Speaking to AFP, Aniston said: "Comedy has evolved, movies have evolved.
"Now it's a little tricky because you have to be very careful, which makes it really hard for comedians. Because the beauty of comedy is that we make fun of ourselves, make fun of life."
She notes how people have been watching TV shows and movies from yesteryear and finding it problematic.
Aniston says that criticism has even found its way to the legendary Friends.
"There's a whole generation of people, kids, who are now going back to episodes of Friends and find them offensive," she said to AFP.
"There were things that were never intentional and others... well, we should have thought it through, but I don't think there was a sensitivity like there is now."
Friends has been reviewed with a modern lens and some critics have suggested the content was racist, homophobic and fatphobic.
Some of the storylines, casting decisions and punchlines have been singled out in recent years, with many saying the show would look very different if it was made today.
The co-creator behind the iconic TV series has admitted the show doesn't look as good today as it did when it premiered.
Marta Kauffman says she definitely saw it through a different lens after the Black Lives Matter movement experienced a resurgence in the US.
She told Los Angeles Times: "It was after what happened to George Floyd that I began to wrestle with my having bought into systemic racism in ways I was never aware of.
"That was really the moment that I began to examine the ways I had participated. I knew then I needed to course-correct."
However, Aniston says that despite the current concern about what you can and can't say in comedy, she hopes that doesn't deter comedians and writers from pushing ahead.
"Everybody needs funny! The world needs humor!" she said.
"We can't take ourselves too seriously. Especially in the United States. Everyone is far too divided."
Topics: Jennifer Aniston, Friends, TV and Film
Stewart Perrie