‘Friends’ Guest Star Accused Of Being A ‘Supreme Snob’ On Set Finally Breaks His Silence

He was called an extremely rude guest star, and now he’s owning it.

Jesse

• Published in News
• November 27, 2024

Friends is one show we can all agree on transcending its time. It captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with its witty banter, unforgettable characters, and iconic Central Perk coffee cups. 

From Chandler’s sarcasm to Joey’s infamous “How you doin’?”, the sitcom wasn’t just a show—it was an institution. And let’s not forget its revolving door of A-list guest stars. 

Whether it was Reese Witherspoon as Rachel’s bratty sister or Bruce Willis playing a hilariously uptight boyfriend, Hollywood’s elite clamored to grace the series. But apparently, not everyone left the Friends set feeling warm and fuzzy. 

In a 2021 interview, Jennifer Aniston dropped a bombshell about one particular guest star. Describing him as someone who acted as though he was “above” the sitcom, Aniston recalled how his snarky attitude didn’t jive with the famously welcoming vibe of the cast and crew. 

Years later, the actor apologized, blaming nerves for his behavior, but his identity remained a mystery — until now.

Drumroll, please! Enter Fisher Stevens, the actor who portrayed Phoebe’s sarcastic psychiatrist boyfriend, Roger, in season one. Stevens recently confessed to being the “extremely rude” guest star during an episode of PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing. And his admission? It’s equal parts cringe and redemption.

The Friends cast: the six who made us laugh, cry, and feel all the feels... even when some guest stars brought unexpected drama to the set!

Stevens explained that his bad attitude stemmed from inexperience with sitcoms—and, admittedly, a touch of arrogance. Flying in from New York to Los Angeles, he had his lines memorized and ready to go. But then, sitcom reality struck: rewrites. 

“I had never done a sitcom before and didn’t know they rewrote lines constantly,” he admitted. “I was kind of an a*****e, I have to admit. I was like, ‘What do you mean? So I have to relearn lines that you’ve written that are worse than what you’d originally written?’ Yeah, I was a d***."

It didn’t help that his dismissive attitude painted him as a classic New Yorker too cool for school—or, in this case, Central Perk. 

Fisher Stevens as Phoebe’s sharp-tongued psychiatrist boyfriend: who knew behind the scenes he was diagnosing himself with a case of ‘New York snobbery’?

Looking back, Stevens cringes at his behavior and sincerely apologizes. “I’m sorry, guys. I was bad, I was wrong.” While he hasn’t crossed paths with his former co-stars much since, he suspects they’d still remember him as that grumpy guy from season one.

Central Perk's energy? Warm and welcoming. Fisher Stevens' energy back then? Let’s just say it didn’t quite match the coffeehouse vibes

While Fisher Stevens may not have won the “Best Guest Star” award, he’s earned points for owning his mistakes—because, in the words of Phoebe Buffay herself, “Even the best cheesecake falls on the floor sometimes.”

So, next time you’re rewatching Phoebe’s disastrous romance with her hypercritical boyfriend, remember—there’s a real-life redemption story behind those scenes. Maybe being a guest star on Friends really was more than just another gig, after all.

Jesse