Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Mindy Kaling says The Office US was ‘inappropriate’ and its characters would be ‘cancelled’ now

Kaling appeared in 157 episodes of the hit US sitcom

Louis Chilton
Tuesday 06 December 2022 15:02 GMT
Comments
The Office US: Employees learn resuscitation during First Aid workshop

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Mindy Kaling has reflected on the legacy of The Office (US), claiming that many of its characters would be “cancelled” today.

The series – adapted from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s seminal British sitcom of the same name – ran from 2005 to 2013.

Kaling played Kelly Kapoor in 157 episodes of the show, also serving as a writer, executive producer, and director.

During an appearance on Good Morning America last week, Kaling was asked when she would allow her children (Katherine, four, and two-year-old Spencer) to watch the series.

“I kind of think maybe never,” she responded. “That show was so inappropriate. We always talk about – the writers I’m still in touch with – we talk about how so much of that show we probably couldn’t make now.

“Tastes have changed and honestly what offends people has changed so much now. I think that it’s one of the reasons the show is popular because there’s something kind of fearless about it or taboo that it talks about on the show.”

She continued: “I think when [my kids are] teenagers they’ll probably want to. Seems like a 15-year-old boy is the biggest fan of The Office right now.”

Kaling was then asked what she thought her character would be doing in the year 2022.

Kaling (left) among her co-workers in season eight of ‘The Office'
Kaling (left) among her co-workers in season eight of ‘The Office' (Chris Haston/NBC)

“I think she probably would have quit Dunder Mifflin to be an influencer and then probably would have been cancelled almost immediately,” she quipped.

“Most of the characters on that show probably would be cancelled.”

Back in 2020, an episode of The Office was edited on streaming services to remove a scene in which a character was seen wearing blackface.

Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free
Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

The sequence in question featured in “Dwight Christmas”, the ninth episode of the show’s ninth season.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in