'The Office': 5 most controversial storylines that would've never survived cancel culture
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: NBC's mockumentary comedy, 'The Office' which aired from 2005 to 2013, has had a lasting impact on popular culture with its colorful characters and quirky situations.
Created by Greg Daniels, the show follows the lives of employees at Dunder Mifflin, a paper manufacturer, and frequently showcases their challenges, which are usually steeped in outrageous humor.
The series, which features eccentric characters and cringe-worthy moments, could have drawn the ire of netizens in today's context of more sensitivity and responsibility.
So, here are five of the most controversial storylines from 'The Office' that would never survive cancellation culture.
'The Office' Season 1 Episode 2: When Michael Scott conducts his own 'Diversity Day' seminar
One of the show's most controversial episodes occurs during 'Diversity Day,' when the employees attend a diversity training session led by consultant Mr Brown.
Michael Scott (Steve Carell), however, decides to conduct his version of diversity training after finding the seminar to be dull and ineffective.
He asks his staff members to write down different ethnicities on cards and stick them to their foreheads, which leads to offensive stereotypes and racial slurs.
This causes a string of inappropriate and controversial incidents that are nothing short of outrageous, undermining the essence of diversity itself.
'The Office' Season 5 Episode 14: When Dwight Schrute staged a fire drill
This plot could easily be deemed problematic because, in the real world, such behavior would likely cause severe psychological distress and could even lead to physical harm.
The storyline revolves around (Rainn Wilson), who decides to test the workplace's fire preparedness by staging an impromptu drill exercise.
However, his drill plan backfires when a real fire erupts in a trash can, sending the entire office into chaos as they scramble to save themselves.
Stanley Hudson (Leslie David Baker) even suffers a heart attack as a result of the stress, further complicating the situation.
'The Office' Season 4 Episode 13: Michael Scott and Jan Levinson's dinner party turns into a living nightmare for the guests
The relationship between Michael and Jan Levinson (Melora Hardin) has always been a glaring red flag that could easily attract the attention of cancel culture on social media.
In this particular episode, Michael joyfully invites his coworkers, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), and others, to join him and Jan for a dinner party at their house.
However, things quickly escalate when Michael and Jan engage in a heated argument in front of their guests.
Throughout the episode, Jan is depicted as controlling and emotionally manipulating Michael, highlighting the dysfunctional nature of their relationship.
'The Office' Season 3 Episode 14: Andy Bernard's explosive outburst
This plotline of the show highlighted Andy Bernard's ( Ed Helms) struggles with controlling his anger, portraying elements that would likely attract criticism in today's social landscape.
Tensions escalate when the company employees hide Andy's phone to prank him, leading him to react by smashing a hole in the wall, perpetuating the stereotype of aggressive and physically expressive masculinity.
His outburst not only disrupts the peace and productivity of the office but also sets a precedent for violent behavior that may intimidate or harm others in the workplace.
'The Office' Season 3 Episode 1: Michael Scott's forcible kiss to Oscar Martinez
This episode of the mockumentary series employs a controversial narrative, which leads to a sequence of contentious and troublesome events.
Michael Scott accidentally reveals Oscar Martinez's (Oscar Nunez ) sexuality at a meeting.
This incident causes embarrassment and discomfort among the office staff, especially when they discover that Oscar has not publicly acknowledged his sexual orientation.
Eventually, Michael tries to apologize to Oscar for outing him and inadvertently worsens the situation by kissing him on the lips.
Michael's unintentional exposure of Oscar's sexuality represents a clear violation of his private and personal boundaries. Furthermore, Michael's homophobic remarks and jokes at Oscar's expense compound the offense.
'The Office' is available to stream on Netflix.
