Phoebe from Friends was, in some ways, the black sheep of the group, with her dark past only being hinted at throughout the show's run. The show aired around twenty years ago, as strange as that is to think, and a reunion is still on the cards.
It's been a while since the last season hit the screens and some parts of Phoebe's character would not be welcomed by a lot of friends today. Let's take a look at ten things Phoebe did that would raise a red flag if they happened now.
Stole A Cat
In season 4 episode 2, appropriately titled, 'The One With The Cat', Phoebe finds a cat in her guitar case and she believes it contains the spirit of her mother who killed herself. Phoebe refuses to give up the cat who Ross finds out is called Julio and belongs to a little girl.
Believing her mother's spirit is in the cat aside, stealing a cat and making no effort to return it to its owner might lead to some controversial opinions among friends.
Got Annoyed At Joey For Cancelling, Then Cancelled Herself
In season 7 episode 11, 'The One With All The Cheesecakes', Joey and Phoebe make plans one night but Joey cancels and leaves a note because he has a date. Phoebe then rants about the importance of not cancelling plans with friends to Joey and the two re-schedule.
Later on in the episode, Phoebe's ex David returns from Minsk and he is only in town for one night. Phoebe then cancels her plans with Joey to see David. Okay, it's not the worst thing in the world, but if a friend ranted at you for cancelling on them and then cancelled themselves, it would definitely start a riot among the group.
Got Annoyed At Ross For No Reason
In season 5 episode 22, 'The One With Joey's Big Break', Phoebe is mad at Ross and he repeatedly asks why until she finally tells him. The only problem is when she finally comes clean, she has no recollection of why she is mad at him.
Throughout the episode, Phoebe was rude to Ross in Central Perk, ignored him later on again in the coffee house and called him "fat-ass". It's later revealed that Ross said Phoebe was boring in a dream. Again, not completely terrible but you would have a similar, if not worse, reaction than Ross had back then if your friend insulted you, talked about you behind your back and ignored you over no reason.
Pretended To Live With Monica
In season 3 episode 6, 'The One With The Flashbacks', Monica notices that Phoebe's bed is gone when she is cleaning the apartment and it turns out that Phoebe doesn't even live in the apartment, and hasn't done for over a week due to Monica's obsessive cleanliness.
This hurts on two levels: the first being that you would hope if you live with someone, there would be enough trust that you could talk about issues with each other, and second, if you did move out, have the decency to tell your friend/roommate. Fair play to Phoebe for still paying rent and not wanting to hurt her friend's feelings.
Didn't Invite Her Parents To Her Wedding
Throughout the show's run fans met Phoebe's birth mother in 'The One At The Beach', and Phoebe's father in 'The One With Joey's Bag', yet neither parents were present when Phoebe married Mike in season 10.
If this happened nowadays, there would hopefully be some friends to smack some sense into you for not inviting your parents to the most important day of your life. Realistically it may have been due to scheduling errors with the actors but in the context of the show, hopefully, your friends would have a better reaction than those in the show which was to ignore the issue.
Cheated On Mike With David
The two biggest men in Phoebe's life on the show were Mike, who she ended up marrying, and David who went off to Minsk in Russia to pursue his science career.
In season 9 episode 6, 'The One With The Male Nanny', David returns and he immediately goes to Phoebe's apartment and the two end up kissing even though Phoebe is with Mike. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why this behavior wouldn't easily be overlooked in 2020.
Went On A Date With Her Sister's Stalker
In season 3 episode 3, 'The One With The Jam', fans meet Malcolm, who has been stalking Ursula, Phoebe's twin sister. Malcolm then sweet talks his way to a date with Phoebe and is one of only two characters to date both Buffay sisters, the other being Eric.
Dating a stalker alone is a giant red flag for anyone, but one that previously stalked your sister? Safe to say that's another level.
Mugged Ross As A Teenager
In season 9 episode 15, 'The One With The Mugging', Phoebe reveals that she mugged Ross when he was a teenager. She took his backpack and with it, the comic that he had written himself and called "Science Boy".
Would you be able to be friends with someone who mugged you, potentially scarring you for life? Even if they did give you your "Science Boy" comic book back?
Stabbed A Cop
In season 5 episode 9, 'The One With Ross's Sandwich', Phoebe pens a threatening note to anyone that touches Ross's sandwich at his work before unveiling to the group that she stabbed a cop because he stabbed her first.
This incident alone would probably make you doubt if Phoebe is someone you want to be friends with if you're learning about this for the first time after 5 years of knowing someone. We think stabbing a cop ranks fairly high on the "people not to be friends with" list.
Introduced Monica To Her Soulmate In Front Of Chandler
In season 8 episode 16, 'The One Where Joey Tells Rachel', Chandler and Monica are at Central Perk when Phoebe comes in with Don who hits it off with Monica. Phoebe acknowledges to Chandler that she thinks Monica and Don are soulmates and Chandler gets defensive.
How long would it take you, if it's possible, to forgive a friend who introduced your significant other to someone they believed was their soulmate? It seems like the kind of behavior that will always be fairly unforgivable among friends.