Just after one mega fan edited their own super depressing episode of Friends where Chandler dies, we discovered a dark fan theory involving Ross and his son Ben.
The theory goes that Ross lost custody of his son after Carol became fed up of his homophobia which is why we don’t see Ben in any of the later seasons.
The sad theory isn’t the work of some mega fan with too much time on their hands it comes from mind of author and Friends fan D.F. Lovett who claims Ross’s behaviour is odd at best.
He explains:
Sure, on first thought, Ross’s shenanigans seem just as cheeky and fun as the rest of the gang. He loves dinosaurs. He dresses up as the Holiday Armadillo.
He claims to have invented the Got Milk? catchphrase. But what about all that other weird stuff he does?
He then pointed out some of Ross’s more questionable actions including the time he tried to kiss his cousin or that time he got his self defences tutor to frighten his female friends.
Lovett also points out that Ross isn’t very respectful when he’s in a relationship, mocked Joey’s lack of an education and Phobe for being quirky.
The fan then adds:
He sleeps with at least one of his students. He is known for being a terrible professor, both unethical and unskilled. And finally, worst of all, there is the situation with his children.
Ben never shows up in the last two seasons not even to meet his sister Emma. To add insult to injury Ben’s grandparents call Emma their first grandchild.
He then posits his fan theory that Ross’ ‘insanity’ may have hit a breaking point with his ex-wife and she could no longer handle his nice-guy syndrome and homophobic snickering.
At this point she took full custody of her son and that rather than fight for his son he just shifted his focus on to the new baby he had with the woman of his obsession.
Normally we’re keen to dismiss fan theories out of hand but this time it does actually make a frightening amount of sense.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.