China censors LGBT+ plotline from Friends

Chinese streaming services have censored multiple episodes of Friends for featuring LGBT+ characters and plotlines, including Ross’ ex-wife Carol.

Several major Chinese streaming platforms – including Tencent, Bilibili, Youku and iQiyi – began showing the first season of Friends on Friday (11 February).

However, several episodes of the beloved US sitcom have been altered to remove LGBT+ characters and stories about queer identities, South China Morning Post reported.

Conversations about Ross’ (David Schwimmer) ex-wife, Carol (Anita Barone), have been removed from episodes streaming on Chinese platforms.

In the show, Carol divorced Ross after realising she is a lesbian. She went on to marry another woman and is the mother of Ross’ son, Ben.

South China Morning Post reported that one mention of lesbians was left uncut from the second episode of the show, but the Chinese subtitles did not translate it.

Additionally, censors deleted a scene where Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) kiss on New Year’s Eve.

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