The multi-talented Mindy Kaling has worn many hats over the years, working as an actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Though she’s appeared in various movies and shows such as Late Night, The Mindy Project, and Inside Out, she initially gained recognition for her role as Kelly Kapoor on NBC’s The Office. Recently, the Locked Down star appeared on Good Morning America to discuss becoming a book publisher. However, Kaling also made some unexpected comments about The Office, which according to Buzzfeed News, has caused some serious backlash from fans of the show.
“That show is so inappropriate now,” Kaling stated during her GMA interview. During her time on the series, Kaling also worked as a writer, executive producer, and even a director, so she was a pretty integral part of the show. The Morning Show actor then said, “The writers who I’m still in touch with now, we always talk about how so much of that show we probably couldn’t make now.” As for her character Kelly, Kaling believes she would have been “canceled almost immediately.” She added, “Most of the characters on that show would be canceled by now.”
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Kaling noted, “Tastes have changed, and honestly what offends people has changed so much now.” Though she did acknowledge the series’ success, Kaling stated that she would “never” let her children watch The Office. “I think that actually is one of the reasons the show is popular, because people feel like there’s something kind of fearless about it or taboo that it talks about on the show.”
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Still, despite the Monsters at Work star’s firm statements, fans of the series aren’t on the same page as Kaling. One fan remarked that the show’s “inappropriate” status made it “impossible to find reruns of the office anywhere bc of cancel culture.” While another stated, “Today’s young people would never accept The Office, a show so inappropriate you can only find it by turning on Comedy Central at any time of day ever.”
Others criticized Kaling’s words and even accused her of “lying” about “cancel culture.” In response to Kaling’s statement, this Twitter user stated, “All celebrities do is sit around and lie about cancel culture. The office is almost on a 24 hour loop on TV….TODAY.”
Another similarly declared that the characters on The Office weren’t meant to be likable, just funny. “They all exhibited cringe-worthy behavior and the audience KNEW it was over the top and therefore it was… Well… Funny. lol It was like holding up a fun house mirror and seeing silly office behaviors we all know to be done but shouldn’t.”
“Nobody was trying to be like these characters.” Another fan agreed, adding, “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.”
The Office is available to stream in its entirety now on Peacock.
