I think it goes without saying that Gilmore Girls was one of the most significant and important shows of the early ’00s. But does it hold up against the test of time?
Recently, I began asking myself that same question and upon my most recent re-watch , I was shocked at my discovery. Have a look and check out these 10+ problematic moments in Gilmore Girls fans will never forget.
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Obviously, TV shows were a product of their time, and so it makes sense that a lot of things that happened might not be okay today.
It’s okay to acknowledge that s show was, and still is, in many ways amazing but doesn’t always hold up very well.
Both can exist at the same time! Lots of fans are able to love the show and call it out too.
1. The time Sookie coerced Jackson into getting a vasectomy and then he lied about it.
So many things are wrong with this I don’t even know where to begin.
But a woman can’t force a man into getting a vasectomy in the same way that a man has no place telling a woman she shouldn’t have a baby.
2. The stereotypical portrayal of Mrs. Kim.
Everything from Mrs. Kim’s thick accent, to her helicopter-style of parenting, is just one giant cliche after another.
Mrs. Kim is also one of the few people of color in the entire series.
3. Emily’s blatant disrespect for her maids.
While unique in their own right, Emily’s maids do share some striking similarities.
They are almost always people of color and usually speak little to no English. Emily tends to not even acknowledge them. To be fair, it’s definitely a commentary on the difference between Lorelai and her mother.
4. When Lorelai attacked Sookie for not being in a relationship.
Lorelai tends to use Sookie as a punching bag from time to time.
But tearing her down for not being in a relationship, just in order to make herself feel better, that was a new low. Thankfully, she apologized immediately!
5. Lorelai referring to Rory as “the good kid” after learning that Paris wasn’t a virgin.
Slut-shaming was rampant in the ’90s and early ’00s, and sadly Gilmore Girls is a victim of its time.
This kind of dialogue wouldn’t be tolerated nowadays.
6. When Rory defends her decision to sleep with a married man.
This happens in season 4 and Rory’s defence is “He’s not a married guy, he’s Dean. My Dean.”
Come on, Rory! Lindsay was always so nice to you, why’d you gotta do her like that? Thankfully, Lorelai called her out on it.
7. Rory fat-shaming a ballerina in her article.
Body-shaming is actually one of the most prevalent themes in Gilmore Girls , and Rory is one of the worst perpetrators.
I’m sorry but calling anyone’s body “disgusting” is just a low blow, especially when it was clearly coming from a petty place.
8. When Jess tried to pressure Rory into having sex.
So for those of you who may argue that toxic masculinity doesn’t exist, I give to you — Jess.
He asks Rory three times and gets three flat refusals. So what does he do? He screams at her and made her cry.
9. When Lorelai runs away from her wedding.
I’m not mad that Lorelai left Max, I’m just upset about the way things were handled. If you don’t want to be with him, that’s fine! No one is forcing you.
But skipping town and leaving him high and dry at the altar? That’s cold. Not exactly problematic, but plain rude.
10. When Emily suggests that fat people don’t belong at parties.
Emily has very specific ideas when it comes to spacing chairs for social gatherings.
After one of her workers puts too much space between them, Emily proclaims that anyone needing that much space should be on a treadmill — not at a party.
11. Some more body shaming.
Even in the revival, they just couldn’t stay away from the body shaming jokes!
While some people might have indeed found it funny, many on the internet were not as pleased.
12. Lorelai’s idea of what Asian culture looks like.
While she certainly meant no harm, that doesn’t mean it didn’t cause any harm.
A lot of fans who love the show aren’t huge fans of this episode, no matter how much Lorelai wanted to cheer her daughter up.
13. The blatant use of the ‘R word’.
It was a different time. Saying the R-word back then was so commonplace, no one would have batted an eye.
Nowadays, it’s enough to set most people’s blood to boiling. How did we ever think that this was OK?
14. The blatant and prevalent homophobia.
It was not easy to be a gay kid growing up in the ’90s and early ’00s. Homosexuality was something to be mocked and chastised, not celebrated.
Which is evident every time you hear Luke refer to something as being “gay.”
15. When Lorelai tells Luke to drive drunk.
Drunk driving isn’t something that many people find funny nowadays. But after calling home from drunk from the golf course, that’s exactly what Lorelai tells Luke to do.
Just drink some coffee and drive home — even though he was slurring his speech.
