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Almost 30 years later, David Schwimmer says Ross and Rachel were DEFINITELY on a break

Yes, Ross and Rachel were on a break on Friends and you can stop shouting at David Schwimmer about it

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It is one of the most fiercely debated moments in television history. After so much build-up, we finally got the Ross-Rachel connection in Friends that we’d been waiting for, only for it to end because of their differing definitions of a “break.” Nearly 30 years after that iconic episode aired, David Schwimmer is adamant that Ross and Rachel were, in fact, on a break.

Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?

For those who might be too young to remember, the question pertains to an iconic moment in Friends when Ross and Rachel temporarily break up. During this time, Ross sleeps with another woman, causing Rachel to accuse him of cheating. The moment plays out repeatedly throughout the series, with Ross occasionally shouting, “We were on a break!” whenever Rachel brings it up.

This episode aired back in 1997, but people still shout “You were on a break!” at David Schwimmer occasionally. During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Schwimmer weighed in on the debate that has hounded his career for decades now, probably not for the first or the last time. “You know, people are so passionately divided about whether or not, you know, they were on a break…. Yeah, it’s not even a question; they were on a break.”

Of course, things weren’t so clear-cut at the time, and we’re sure that many fans who grew up watching the show might have a slightly different opinion. While David Schwimmer seems to truly believe Ross and Rachel were on a break, and therefore his character did no wrong, the moment has divided pop culture enough to propel Friends into the lexicon for almost 30 years now.


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Trent Cannon

Trent Cannon: Trent is a freelance writer who has been covering anime, video games, and pop culture for a decade. (He/Him)

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