“It would’ve destroyed us”: Jennifer Aniston Fought Hard to Keep FRIENDS Cast Intact After Biased Treatment From Showrunners
SAG-AFTRA strike is close to reaching its 50th day, as the actors’ union finds itself at loggerheads with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers over better working conditions, pay, and residual payments, among other issues.
DC’s much-awaited project Blue Beetle appears to have suffered at the box office due to the ongoing strike, as its star-cast, including lead face Xolo Maridueña, stepped back from doing promotions for the movie to show solidarity with the strike. Blue Beetle is certainly not the only movie to suffer unwanted consequences, multiple projects have experienced the same fate and countless others face uncertainty due to stalled production.
However, the dispute between Studios executives and actors isn’t new. For one reason or another and to varying degrees, there have always been disagreements and confrontations between the men in suits and the talents on the set. The iconic sitcom Friends faced similar challenges.
Why Jennifer Aniston Starrer Friends Was So Successful
Friends is one of the greatest and most loved television series of all time. The story of six friends revolving in and around their Manhattan flats and a coffee shop started in 1994 and stretched for 10 seasons. But even to this day, the star-studded cast of Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc receive plenty of admiration from old and new fans alike.
And not just love, the main cast, as per multiple reports, get residual payments for their two-decade-old work to this date. The issue of residual payment is also a big talking point in the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
One of the big reasons behind the show’s success was the chemistry between all six stars on and off the set and when they returned for an HBO special, Friends: The Reunion, in 2021, it seemed they still live together in the same apartment building in Manhattan.
Disparity of any kind usually leads to slow-burning conflicts that eventually make it tiring for co-stars to work together for an extended period. Working with the same chemistry and maintaining the friendship vibe for 10 years was no cakewalk for the Friends cast, as it has emerged Aniston went to great lengths to ensure there were no financial differences between any of her co-stars.
How Jennifer Aniston Saved Friends From Falling Apart
Friends took little time to attract millions of viewers, as fans swiftly resonated with the main characters’ lives, which were engrossed with everyday issues. Even the way they dealt with hurdles was relatable.
By Season 2, the romantic angle between Ross and Rachel started to make waves and quickly established itself as the main plot point. This led to Aniston and Schwimmer earning more than their co-stars.
However, the Horrible Bosses actress understood the pay gap might end up impacting their connection, and subsequently, the six stars negotiated with show-runners for an equal figure. The 54-year-old said: “It would’ve destroyed us, I think, if someone was soaring financially.”
This move ensured they continued to work without any known ill feelings toward each other and by the end of the show all six were making $1 million per episode. They started their journey together with a pay of $22,500 per episode. Meanwhile, Aniston continued to bag big roles even after Friends and has amassed a staggering net worth of over $300 million.
Source: Jennifer Aniston Desperately Tries to Protect Her $300 Million Empire After Jamie Foxx Controversy
Source: Screen Rant
