Matthew Perry And John Krasinski Declined To Shoot Infidelity Scenes In Their Sitcoms

Matthew Perry and John Krasinski drew a firm line when filming specific scenes throughout their careers.

The beloved sitcom Friends captured hearts globally, especially the central storyline of Chandler Bing and Monica Geller’s relationship. Matthew Perry, who portrayed Bing, adamantly refused to have his character cheat on Geller, played by Courteney Cox, during the show’s decade-long run.

Similarly, John Krasinski, known for his role as Jim Halpert in The Office, shared Perry’s sentiment. Krasinski rejected the idea of his character cheating on Jenna Fischer’s Pam Beesly.

Matthew Perry and John Krasinski Wouldn’t Film Cheating Scenes

Actress Lisa Cash revealed that she was initially cast to play Chandler’s on-screen affair partner, but Perry firmly vetoed the storyline. She told this after Perry’s passing in October.

“Matthew Perry said the audience would never forgive him,” Cash disclosed to NBC News. “Matthew Perry went to the writers and said the audience would never forgive him (Chandler), which made a lot of sense.”

The proposed cheating scene was slated for season five, episode 23, “The One in Vegas: Part 1.” Cash eventually appeared in Friends as a flight attendant in a scene with Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston). However, she fully supported Perry’s decision to scrap the affair plot, even if it meant missing out on a significant role in the award-winning series.

“I think he was very right,” Cash remarked. “The Ross and Rachel (David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston) thing, ‘They were on a break,’ but this wouldn’t have been on a break. This would have been a decision he would have made while they were together.”

She continued, “I think it would have really changed how the audience would have (viewed) Chandler and that whole thing. I don’t know if they could have survived it.”

In a 2017 appearance on “Watch What Happens: Live” with Andy Cohen, Perry revealed another instance where he refused to film a scene for Friends. The storyline involved Chandler going to a male strip club, a plotline that Perry successfully persuaded the producers to omit from the show.

John Krasinsky Opposed the Cheater Storyline

Image via Amazon Studios.

Much like Matthew Perry, John Krasinski stood firm against the idea of his on-screen alter ego betraying his soulmate.

Devoted The Office fans witnessed the gradual evolution of Jim and Pam’s relationship. Their love blossomed from co-workers at the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Although their chemistry was evident from the beginning, the on-screen couple tied the knot in season six at Niagara Falls.

In the book, “Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office,” Krasinski revealed a pivotal moment. He resisted a storyline that would have seen Jim having an affair with the new secretary while Pam was on maternity leave with their first child.

“That’s the only time I remember putting my foot down,” recalled Krasinski in the book by Brian Baumgartner and Ben Silverman. “I remember saying things that I never thought I’d say before, like, ‘I’m not going to shoot it.'”

For John Krasinski, the dedicated The Office fan base played a significant role in his decision. He believed pushing the boundaries too far, especially by depicting Jim cheating, could alienate the loyal audience.

“My feeling is there is a threshold with which you can push our audience,” he explained in the book. “They are so dedicated. We have shown such great respect to them. But there’s a moment where if you push them too far, they’ll never come back. And I think that if you show Jim cheating, they’ll never come back.”

Krasinski portrayed Jim throughout all nine The Office seasons, which aired from 2005 to 2013.

Featured Image Via Bright / Kauffman / Crane Productions

I am a circus aerialist influenced by Dick Grayson and Spider-Man. Fortunate to write about the characters that inspired me. I also have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in International Trade.