“Friends” Reunion “Not Happening”

A rumor circulating online states that NBC has “confirmed” that there will be a Friends reunion television show.

The rumor is false.

In November 2012, a fake graphic circulated with the Friends logo and text which read “The one with the reunion, Thanksgiving 2014.” There had been no announcements by NBC or any cast members to verify this rumor.

“Zero Truth”

On November 22, 2012 Matthew Perry refuted the rumor by tweeting, “There is zero truth to this rumor. but Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!”

In April 2013, the hoax once again picked up steam and was reported by a few websites, such as Star Weekly, which headlined, “NBC “confirms” Friends new comeback season reunion!”

Adding to Perry’s refutation of the rumor months earlier, co-creator Marta Kauffman told E! News, “I’m going to clear this up – it’s not happening!” She went further, denying reports of a Friends movie, adding, “Friends was about that time in your life when your friends are your family and once you have a family, there’s no need anymore.” A source at NBC also told E! that the rumor was “not true.”

Lisa Kudrow was asked about the rumor and the above graphic by Conan O’Brien. She said the graphic even fooled her at first. In discussing rumors about a “Friends” reunion, Kudrow stated, “That’s never gonna happen.” See the full interview below.

As Thanksgiving 2013 approached, the rumor once again regained traction and saw heavy circulation, despite refutation from Perry and Kauffman, and no evidence to back it up. The rumor resurfaced again in November 2014 and November 2015.

A second “Friends” graphic began circulating online in mid-January 2014. This contained the caption, “The one after the 10 year break.”

In January 2014, Courteney Cox was asked about a Friends reunion. She told OTRC.com, “We are way too old to be showing what we look like from that to that. No, we’re not doing one.”

In November 2015 the same graphic above was re-circulated and updated to reflect the current year. It was posted on Facebook and received tens of thousands of shares.

Bottom Line

There are no plans for a Friends reunion movie or television series. The rumor and fake graphics continue to circulate several times a year.

Sources

• NBC “confirms” Friends new comeback season reunion! (Cinthya Lara, Star Media: April 12, 2013)
• Friends Reunion Will Never Ever Happen, Says Co-Creator Marta Kauffman (Marc Malkin, E! Online: April 16, 2013)
• Rumor: NBC Confirms That ‘Friends’ Is Returning For A Comeback Season (Colby Eis, Elite Daily: April 21, 2013)
• Courteney Cox on ‘Friends’ reunion, ‘Cougar Town’ season 5 (Spoilers) (OnTheRedCarpet.com: January 7, 2014)

Revised November 6, 2015
Originally published December 2013