Lisa Kudrow is revisiting one of the most debated storylines in television history—and sharing her perspective on the long-running “Friends” debate about Ross and Rachel.
During a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Kudrow addressed the question that fans have argued about for decades: whether Ross was justified in his actions after telling Rachel they were “on a break.”
Lisa Kudrow Says Ross Was a ‘Bad Boyfriend’ on ‘Friends’
Kudrow admitted she was hesitant to revisit the topic but ultimately shared her opinion.
“I’m afraid now to bring it up,” Kudrow said.
Fallon asked directly, “What is your take? Were they on a break?”
“Well, no. But it’s beyond that,” Kudrow responded. “It’s beyond break or not—he was a bad boyfriend.”
The audience reacted immediately, prompting Kudrow to acknowledge their support.
“Oh, you agree! Oh, I feel better,” she said. “Thank you. Thank you for this. Thank you, all of you.”
Kudrow also reflected on how the cast discussed the storyline during their reunion special.
“We did the reunion just like five years ago… we were all so like, ‘They were on a break,’” she explained. “Rachel, that hysterical shrew, not letting him sleep with someone and won’t get back together. She shouldn’t have gotten back with him because he was horrible.”
When Fallon asked whether co-star David Schwimmer knew her current stance, Kudrow did not respond directly. Fallon added, “He knows now.”
The storyline in question dates back to season 3, episode 16 of “Friends,” titled “The One with the Morning After,” when Ross insists, “We were on a break,” after Rachel accuses him of cheating.
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Kudrow also spoke about the continued success of “Friends,” which first premiered in 1994 and quickly became one of television’s most popular sitcoms.
In an interview with The Times in London, Kudrow revealed that the cast still earns significant residuals from the show.
“Because Phoebe Buffay was so great?” she joked when discussing the reported $20 million per year earnings.
Kudrow said she had not fully watched the show before but began revisiting it after the death of her co-star Matthew Perry in October 2023.
“Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better,” she said. “But for the first time I truly appreciated just how great it was. I felt I did OK, but Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew—he was just beyond us all.”
She also shared similar sentiments in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, describing watching Perry’s work as a way to celebrate his legacy.
“You’re just laughing all day long, basically, in between the scenes, because these are funny people,” Kudrow said. “And especially someone like Matthew, whose goal was: How many laughs can I get in real life every day?”
Despite her critique of Ross’ behavior, Kudrow emphasized how much she continues to appreciate her co-stars’ performances.
“I’m blown away by Courteney Cox. I’m blown away by Jennifer Aniston,” she said. “Matthew, obviously, is just uniquely hilarious. Matt LeBlanc is hilarious. And David Schwimmer, too. Sometimes I even laugh at what I’ve done.”
