Lies that ‘Friends’ told us about life and love

'Friends’ first aired in 1994, and for the ten years and seasons that it ran, fans from all over the world fell in love with Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe.

The beloved show about six friends who lived in New York City together showed everyone a realistic reflection of normal people navigating life through their twenties and thirties—or did it?

When you actually watch the popular sitcom back, you realize that there were a few mistruths hidden in there, and some pretty bad lessons about life and love. For instance, how do you think Monica and Rachel afforded that apartment? And would you really forgive your best friend for kissing your mum?

Click on to find out more ways that ‘Friends’ might have misled you.

Anyone can afford a huge apartment

This is, without a doubt, one of the biggest lies told in ‘Friends.’ There is no way that a coffeehouse waitress, an out-of-work actor, or a diner chef could afford to live in an enormous apartment in central New York. 

You will never put on weight

Joey’s favorite food is pizza and sandwiches, yet he remains a heartthrob throughout the series. The friends also enjoy a huge breakfast every morning and endless muffins at Central Perk without putting on a pound. 

You don’t need to work out

Not only can you eat what you want, but you also never have to go to the gym. In fact, in 'The One with the Ballroom Dancing’ (season four, episode four), they even joke about how ridiculous it would be for Ross and Chandler to join the gym. 

New mums live with their best mates

As a young, single actor with a lothario reputation, it may not be entirely accurate that Joey wanted Rachel and her new baby Emma to live with him. Or that Rachel, who has a top job with Ralph Lauren, wouldn’t want her own place. 

Friends can hook up and stay friends

Joey and Rachel kiss at the end of season nine and actually start dating at the beginning of season ten. It quickly fizzles out, but somehow they are still able to continue to not only be friends, but to actually live together! 

You can steal your friend's girlfriend

In ‘The One Where Chandler Crosses the Line’ (season 4, episode 7), Chandler kisses Joey’s girlfriend, Kathy, and then goes on to make her his girlfriend! Despite an initial argument, they’re best friends again within a couple of episodes. 

Owning a monkey is normal

In ‘The One with the Monkey’ (Season 1, Episode 10), Ross gets a pet capuchin monkey called Marcel. And despite some jokes, it’s generally accepted that he wanted a companion after his divorce. To be clear, this is not normal (or even legal!) 

Parenting is easy

This free time also extends to parents. Ross is the first to become a father in season one when Ben is born. He then becomes a parent again when he has a baby with Rachel in season eight. And yet they both still have the same amount of free time, and life is a breeze! 

It’s unreasonable to be mad at your partner

It’s not just Rachel that Ross is a bad partner to. He also says his ex-girlfriend's name at the altar when he marries Emily, and ‘Friends’ had viewers believe that she was being unreasonable for being upset about this. How does that work out? 

You are constantly offered promotions

Rachel goes from working as a waitress to working at Bloomingdale's to being in her own office at Ralph Lauren within the space of five seasons. She then gets headhunted to move to Paris to work for Louis Vuitton—and all with a badly typed résumé from Chandler’s "compuper!"

Political views are never an issue

It’s unrealistic and idealistic, to say the least, to think that politics will never come up between friends or get in the way of friendships because, let’s face it, there’s no way that Ross and Phoebe vote for the same people. 

You should never leave your comfort zone

Joey and Chandler joke about the need to leave their comfort zone and climb Mount Everest in ‘The One with the Invitation’ (season four, episode 21)—and then don’t do it. In fact, the idea of even leaving Central Perk is seen as pretty scary.

No one will ever get sick

No one has any serious illnesses in ‘Friends.’ It would probably take some of the comedy out of the sitcom, but the show would have people believe that they will never even have to visit a relative in hospital. 

Inappropriate relationships are okay

There are so many examples of inappropriate relationships in ‘Friends,’ but the best is probably when Ross dates his student, Elizabeth, and then his ex-girlfriend, Rachel, ends up dating her dad, Paul! Talk about a love triangle.