‘Friends’ is not without its faults, and most people can probably agree that Ross Geller was often the worst. Every rewatch of the show reveals another behavior from him that just grows increasingly problematic.
Ross is characterized as the funny, nerdy, lovable one, but anyone who has watched the show knows he was far from perfect. And these are the top 10 times when there were simply no excuses for how awful he was.
10. The Time He Threw Himself A Funeral
Ross managed to take his insecurities to a completely different level in this episode. After he and Chandler join their college alumni website, they attempt to out-prank each other, and Ross comments that Chandler is “very gay” in the forum.
That is problematic in itself, but Ross takes it up a notch when he grows curious how his former classmates would behave if he had died. His solution? Organizing a memorial service for himself.
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9. He Never Respected Monica
Ross never seems to give Monica the respect she deserves, and his reaction to her relationship with Chandler is the perfect example. Instead of being happy for them, he completely overreacts and turns the situation about himself.
He also lies to their parents about Chandler to avoid taking responsibility for his own actions, while constantly taking advantage of being the favorite child. Ross knew Monica was overlooked, yet he repeatedly takes advantage of that dynamic instead of standing up for her.
8. Every Time He Had To Be Right
Ross has an almost unbearable need to prove that he is right, even when doing so means completely dismissing his friends’ feelings. When Phoebe believes her mother has reincarnated as her cat, he refuses to let her find comfort in it.
He does the same when Phoebe reveals she doesn’t blindly believe in every scientific theory, going to ridiculous lengths to change her mind. Then there is the famous “Unagi” situation, where he seizes the opportunity once again to prove he knows best.
7. Every Time He Was Homophobic
Ross’ fragile masculinity shows up in ‘Friends’ in the most uncomfortable ways. He constantly struggles to respect Carol and Susan’s relationship, treating it almost as a comedy punchline.
His behavior towards Chandler is just as bad, from fake-outing him on their college alumni website to mocking him for kissing another man. He even fired a male nanny because he believed the job was not masculine. These supposedly harmless moments are much harder to excuse.
6. Everything He Did To His Girlfriends For Rachel
Ross’s love for Rachel does not excuse the way he treated his girlfriends, that too numerous times. First, he cheats on Julie with Rachel, cheats on Bonnie and then dumps her after she shaves her head, and completely disrespects Mona.
Then there is Emily, who may not have been everyone’s favorite, but she was horribly wronged when Ross said Rachel’s name at their wedding. Somehow, Ross always makes everyone else pay for his choices.
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5. When He Tried To Kiss His Cousin
Ross reaches an entirely different level of horrible when his cousin Cassie visits for Monica and Chandler’s wedding. While she is staying at his place, he makes her increasingly uncomfortable the whole time by staring at her.
Eventually, he convinces himself that she is somehow sending her signals and tries to kiss her. The entire storyline is deeply uncomfortable, especially getting to know Ross’s internal monologue and how he justifies his behavior.
4. The Time He Dated His Student
Ross somehow justifies that dating his student is completely normal. When he gets to know anonymously that one of his students has a crush on him, instead of shutting the situation down like an adult, he actively goes out to find the student and then date her.
Their age difference and the obvious power dynamic were completely inappropriate, and Ross makes it worse by believing he can police her actions. He even gets offended when Rachel dates the student’s father, somehow completely missing the irony.
3. Never Understanding Consent
Ross repeatedly ignores basic boundaries throughout ‘Friends’. He kisses Monica while she is barely conscious, mistaking her for Rachel, lies about being a masseuse to get close to one of Phoebe’s clients, and thinks Rachel being naked in her own home means an invitation for him.
Most troublingly, he secretly records an intimate encounter with Rachel without her knowledge. There are no excuses that defend his complete disregard for others’ consent.
2. Every Time He Disrespected Rachel
Knowing that Ross had been in love with Rachel since high school, you would think he would at least respect her, but that was never the case. After writing off her waitressing job on his infamous list, Ross completely dismisses her career when Rachel finally gets her start in the fashion industry. The whole Mark debacle is another example of his jealousy and insecurity.
He even bonds with Dr Green by insulting Rachel and co-founds the “I Hate Rachel” club. Then there was the time he secretly kept their marriage from being annulled. Every time Rachel shows her independence, Ross becomes incredibly possessive and insecure.
1. And Finally, When He Said “We Were On A Break“
The entire “we were on a break” is the most infamous debate on ‘Friends’. But no matter whose side you were on, rewatching the show now clearly shows how horribly Ross handled the entire situation.
The whole incident happened because he never trusted Rachel and constantly thought she would cheat on him with her co-worker, when she reassured him multiple times that it wasn’t the case. Then, after cheating on her, he refused to acknowledge and take responsibility for his consequences.
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