We can all take a collective sigh, Friends fans. Netflix is not breaking up with the beloved sitcom classic — at least not yet, that is.
Fans went into a panic over the weekend when reports (falsely) claimed that the show would be leaving the streaming service in 2019, but Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos told The Hollywood Reporter that it’s just a rumor.
The Holiday Armadillo has granted your wish: “Friends” will still be there for you in the US throughout 2019 pic.twitter.com/Yd0VqRzk3r
— Netflix US (@netflix) December 3, 2018
According to Entertainment Weekly, the panic all started when Netflix added an “available until Jan. 1” note on the show’s “details” tab. A Change.org petition was even started to convince Netflix to keep the show on its streaming service, with passionate fans adding that its removal would be “unfair, unacceptable and downright inhumane.”
The January 1st removal date has since been removed from the “details” tab.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Netflix bought the rights to all 10 seasons of Friends in a $118 million deal back in 2014. The streaming giant even remastered all of the episodes for HD streaming.
The former NBC series became massively popular again, and became an incentive for new users to sign up for Netflix.
The Hollywood Reporter did note, however, that WarnerMedia, which owns Friends, is planning to start its own streaming service, so it would be like losing Disney or Marvel movies or shows — it would likely show up again on another platform.
But you don’t have to worry just yet Friends fans — the show will still be there for you to enjoy over the holiday season. Although, you could still watch all 230 episodes if you wanted to, because we totally will be.