Were Ross And Rachel Really On A Break? Here's What David Schwimmer Thinks
"Friends" is one of the most popular TV shows of all time. The series became a pop culture phenomenon after it began airing on NBC in 1994. Throughout the show's 10 seasons, fans fell in love with the characters of Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), and Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc). Of course, the characters' love lives were also a hot topic among viewers, and the show's beloved pairing of Ross and Rachel was one that fans couldn't get enough of. Sadly, the characters had a complicated love story, which took a dramatic turn when there was confusion about whether or not they were on a break.
During a rocky time in Ross and Rachel's relationship, they discussed taking a break. This led a heartbroken Ross to get drunk and have a one-night stand. When Rachel found out, she washed her hands of the relationship. There has been a lot of debate about Ross and Rachel's emotional split, and if the characters were really on a break from their relationship. However, much like his onscreen alter ego Ross, Schwimmer maintains that the couple weren't officially together at the time of his transgression.
The Friends cast agree that Ross and Rachel were on a break
During a 2020 interview on "The Tonight Show," David Schwimmer revealed that he believes that Ross and Rachel were, in fact, on a break and that his "Friends" character didn't technically cheat on Rachel. "Yeah, it's not even a question," the actor told host Jimmy Fallon (via Yahoo). "They were on a break." Ross and Rachel's break became a hot-button issue among viewers, and the sensitive subject became a running joke on the series for years to come. In the series finale when Ross and Rachel are proven to be endgame, the pair promise to do things right the second time around. Of course, Ross puts his foot in his mouth, mentioning their break before he and Rachel are able to finally laugh it off.
In 2021, when the cast of "Friends" sat down for a highly anticipated reunion special, they were asked about where they landed on the issue of Ross and Rachel's break. Each of the cast members, including Jennifer Aniston, who portrayed Rachel Green on the series, agreed that the couple were most definitely on a break during the time of Ross' one-night stand. So, while fans may still be on the fence about the issue, the cast has made it clear where they fall in the debate.
Couples therapists weigh in on Ross and Rachel's break
While everyone seems to have an opinion about whether or not Ross and Rachel were really on a break during their romance on "Friends," some real-life couples therapists did shed some light on the subject. "This happens a lot. People take the word 'break' and they're not intentional about what they mean about a break," Dr. Patrice N. Douglas told Cosmopolitan. "Rachel was not specific; therefore, she did leave room for interpretation for Ross to believe that they were broken up. She should have said, 'Let's take a time-out.' That's the word that we use in couples therapy and anger management. She used the wrong word."
Meanwhile, psychotherapist and couples therapist Sam Talone tells the outlet that both Ross and Rachel were in the wrong, and put their need to feel like they were right above their relationship. "Sleeping with Chloe, while understandably hurtful to Rachel, is really incidental here and symptomatic of their poor communication," Talone stated.
Fans may never see eye to eye when it comes to Ross and Rachel's break. However, at least we know how David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston feel about their characters' debate.