Jennifer Aniston’s portrayal of Rachel Green in the NBC hit sitcom Friends was iconic and captured the hearts of millions. But before the show’s finale in 2004, everyone was worked up about how it would end. In this, the major contention among the viewers was whether Ross and Rachel would end up together or not. Aniston tried to answer this question during her appearance on SNL, but it was not what fans expected.
Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer in a still from Friends || NBC
During her appearance, the actress made a shocking statement concerning Rachel’s ending with Ross that almost gave the entire Friends fandom a heart attack.
Jennifer Aniston’s Friends Prank That Left the SNL Audience in a Frenzy
Jennifer Aniston in a still from Friends || NBC
Friends can easily be in the top ten of everyone’s watch list. Further, it was not just a show but a cultural phenomenon that many could relate to, whether it be about friendships or relationships. But one romantic plot that stood out from the rest was that of Ross and Rachel. The characters’ ‘Will-They-Won’t-They’ arc kept the audience hooked to their seats, wondering whether they’d be an end game or not.
So, when the show’s finale was announced, it was only normal for these questions to come out in the open. Jennifer Aniston had her own hilarious take on these fan queries when she performed her SNL skit in 2004 before the premiere of the sitcom’s final season.
She added that there’s a lot of buzz about how the show would end. Further, to keep the audience on their toes, the creators had supposedly filmed several alternate endings.
After taking the viewers through a little flashback at Central Perk detailing the storyline of other characters from the show (via SNL), Aniston said:
But we’re probably just gonna do the ending where Rachel’s heart is broken by Ross because he finally comes out of the closet.
After making this statement, the actress gasped in shock, with the audience clapping loudly. The actress was merely pranking the audience, but the Friends finale was something that everyone had wished for: Ross and Rachel ending up together.
Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer Had a Crush on Each Other
Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer in a still from Friends || NBC
The behind-the-scenes happenings and romances are most of the time a well-hidden secret. One such secret was revealed during the Friends reunion episode when James Corden took the opportunity to question the entire cast of Friends on their off-screen relationships.
This led to some unexpected revelations from Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, who revealed that both of them had a mutual crush on each other during the initial seasons of the sitcom. Schwimmer explained (via Hollywood Life):
At some point, we were both crushing hard on each other, but it was like two ships passing because one of us was always in a relationship, and we never crossed that boundary.
He further recalled their time on the Friends set and added that they would often cuddle on the couch. Further, he couldn’t believe that nobody on set knew about the actors having feelings for each other. To this, the late Matthew Perry joked, “We knew,” and Courteney Cox added, “We knew for sure.”
Schwimmer further called it a missed opportunity but also acknowledged that their unfulfilled romantic feelings might have made their on-screen chemistry even better.
To this, Jennifer Aniston added that the duo took all of their real feelings and put them into Ross and Rachel. She added, “I remember saying one time to David, ‘It’s going to be such a bummer if the first time you and I actually kiss is going to be on national television.” The actors couldn’t get together in real life but maintained a strong and loving friendship that continues to this day.
You can stream all the seasons of Friends on Max.
