Mindy Kaling, the creator and star of the hit show The Office, recently spoke out about the show’s less-than-appropriate characters and shared why they should have been canceled.
In an interview with Variety, Kaling said, “Tastes have changed, and honestly what offends people has changed so much now. I think that actually is one of the reasons the show is popular, because people feel like there’s something kind of fearless about it or taboo that it talks about on the show.”
Kaling then went on to explain what her character Kelly Kapoor would be up to these days (“I think she would have quit Dunder Mifflin to become an influencer”), adding that she and “most of the characters on that show would be canceled by now.”
“I think that actually is one of the reasons the show is popular, because people feel like there’s something kind of fearless about it or taboo that it talks about on the show,” Kaling continued.
However, fans online were quick to disagree with Kaling. Many pointed out that The Office is still one of the most popular shows on streaming today despite its “taboo” topics. It’s been almost a decade since it’s left the air, but the show still gathers streaming minutes like few others.
Right- nobody was trying to be like these characters.
It was supposed to show all the uncomfortable and inappropriate behaviors everyone encounters even today. It gave us a safe space to laugh about them.
— Kelly C (@kelecash) December 6, 2022
at any point during the day, The Office is playing on a tv channel somewhere and nbc created an entire streaming app basically around people watching The Office, seems like no one today has a problem with it https://t.co/21se0Kke0b
— ashley ray (@theashleyray) December 6, 2022
Fans also pointed out that another show full of unlikable characters premiered the same year and is still running. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — of which Kaling herself has guest starred — has arguably some of the most unlikable characters in television history. Yet somehow, the show prevails.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a show that started *the same year as The Office* and features characters who are *deliberately the worst humans to ever be featured on a mainstream TV show* is still producing new episodes. https://t.co/0MjHK3K4b6
— Roger (6’5”) (@iamtherog) December 6, 2022