Critics are blasting actress and comedian Mindy Kaling for claiming that cancel culture would make The Office taboo in today’s society, claiming the show is still as popular as ever.
Kaling, who played Kelly Kapoor on the hit show, said that “most of the characters” on the show would be “canceled by now.”
“Tastes have changed, and honestly, what offends people has changed so much now,” she added.
‘WHAT OFFENDS PEOPLE HAS CHANGED’: MINDY KALING SAYS THE OFFICE COULDN’T BE MADE NOW
Not everyone agreed with Kaling’s assessment, however. One critic pointed out that the show is always on TV and that it can be found on several streaming services.
“All celebrities do is sit around and lie about cancel culture. The office is almost on a 24 hour loop on TV….TODAY,” she tweeted.
All celebrities do is sit around and lie about cancel culture. The office is almost on a 24 hour loop on TV….TODAY https://t.co/O82lmNciqR
— Riley Freeman (@TrillaryBlinton) December 6, 2022
While Kaling argued that the show “is so inappropriate now,” others pointed out that it was created deliberately to frustrate people.
“They all exhibited cringe-worthy behavior and the audience KNEW it was over the top and therefore it was… Well… Funny,” one Twitter user wrote.
“It was like holding up a fun house mirror and seeing silly office behaviors we all know to be done but shouldn’t,” he added.
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
Another user echoed the same sentiments, adding that the characters weren’t supposed to be liked.
“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,” she tweeted in response.
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Users also pointed out that the “despicable people” aspect of the show is what people want.
“This is disappointing from the very smart Mindy. Viewers are perfectly able to distinguish between fictional characters and real people,” a user tweeted.
This is disappointing from the very smart Mindy. Viewers are perfectly able to distinguish between fictional characters and real people. She should watch HBO for a few days. THE WHITE LOTUS, SUCCESSION, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON. These are despicable people—and great, popular shows.
— Max Weiss (@maxthegirl) December 7, 2022
“THE WHITE LOTUS, SUCCESSION, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON. These are despicable people — and great, popular shows,” they added.
In 2020, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the public streamed more than 57 billion minutes of the show on Netflix prior to its move to Peacock. According to Nielsen, The Office was the most streamed show of the year — by a large amount.
