The One Where Netflix Confirms ‘Friends’ Is Not Leaving The Service (UPDATE)
UPDATE: 6:20 p.m. Monday ― The Holiday Armadillo has spoken. Netflix tweeted Monday evening that “Friends” will remain on the streaming service for U.S. audiences throughout 2019.
The Holiday Armadillo has granted your wish: “Friends” will still be there for you in the US throughout 2019 pic.twitter.com/Yd0VqRzk3r
— Netflix US (@netflix) December 3, 2018
PREVIOUSLY:
Rumors ran rampant on Monday that NBC mega-hit “Friends” was slated to leave Netflix on Jan. 1. However, by Monday afternoon the issue had been thrown into question, with Netflix’s chief content officer describing the supposed news as a “rumor.”
The initial reports of the show’s departure, as you might imagine, left many people on Twitter thoroughly upset:
Friends is officially leaving Netflix January 1st so Merry Christmas :( pic.twitter.com/UBS5T5kjbD
— Des 🖤 (@Destinywilcoxso) December 2, 2018
someone: netlix is taking friends off
me: pic.twitter.com/f9ozt5ib8k— bo 💌 (@beereilish) December 3, 2018
NETLIX DONT YOU DARE TAKE FRIENDS OFF. YOU ALREADY TOOK AWAY HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.. DONT DO THIS TO ME pic.twitter.com/B8epU5Gd0c
— Autumn Bohannan (@autumnbohannann) December 3, 2018
netflix is taking friends off on january 1st. looks like 2019 is already off to a bad start
— Abigail Bowers (@abby_bowers8) December 2, 2018
Netflix is really removing Friends on January 1st and the only reason I have an account is to rewatch the same episodes of the show whenever I’m bored so I guess it’s time to cancel my subscription
— sai (@Saisailu97) December 3, 2018
My reaction when I heard Friends is being taken off of Netflix on January 1st pic.twitter.com/QzUmaOFSKt
— maddy reynolds (@maddyyyreynolds) December 3, 2018
For a while there on Monday, “Friends” was listed on Netflix.com with an expiration date of Jan. 1, 2019 ― indicating the show would soon cease streaming after four years on the service, and leave a hole the size of 230 episodes in the hearts of millions.
By Monday afternoon, however, that expiration date had been removed, and Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, told The Hollywood Reporter that the show’s “departure is a rumor.”
So, what gives? Are we all being gaslit? A spokesperson for Netflix did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on the matter.
TV lovers can perhaps be forgiven for feeling confused and vulnerable right now. After all, it was only recently that AT&T announced plans to launch its own streaming platform with three levels of service in 2019.
There will be an “entry-level movie-focused” package, a “premium service” with original programming and blockbuster movies, and a third service that bundles content from the first two, plus a library of WarnerMedia and licensed content.
At any rate, if “Friends” leaves Netflix, a lot of people are going to be upset ― us included.
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This entry has been updated throughout.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.