Hi, I'm Hannah, and I love rom-coms! They're swoony, funny, and offer wish fulfillment for romance that we don't always see in everyday life.
I grew up in the rom-com era, and I find it super nostalgic to go back and watch my fave rom-coms from the 2000s — as well as older classics from the '80s and '90s. But...sometimes they don't exactly hold up.
Here are 22 rom-com scenes that are misogynistic, predatory, homophobic, and overall pretty darn offensive.
WARNING: Some of the scenes mention rape and sexual assault.
1. In Never Been Kissed, when Sam got on the carousel with Josie (his student that he thought was underage), started confiding in her about his relationship troubles, and then openly flirted with her.
2. In John Tucker Must Die, when Beth taught Kate how to kiss, and it was entirely played as a sexy moment for the male gaze.
3. And when the girls gave John a little bit of estrogen, and he started acting like a stereotypical overemotional girl:
4. In Sixteen Candles, when Jake says this about his girlfriend, Caroline.
5. And then literally tells Ted to do whatever he wants with her. And HE DOES.
6. In The Breakfast Club, when Bender sticks his head between Claire's thighs while he's hiding under the table.
7. And when he spends most of the movie verbally and sexually harassing her, and then they end up together.
8. In Wedding Crashers, when Mrs. Cleary forces John to touch her boobs.
9. And when Gloria literally ties up and rapes Jeremy.
10. This eating disorder joke in Miss Congeniality:
11. As well as this eating disorder joke in The Hot Chick:
12. In White Chicks, when Latrell spikes Marcus's drink, and the whole thing is played for humor.
13. And when Gomez and Harper kept ripping off the real Tiffany and Brittany's clothing to prove that they were actually Kevin and Marcus in disguise.
14. Alllll the stalking that goes on in There's Something About Mary.
15. In I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, when Chuck and Larry were supposed to kiss to prove their marriage was real, and the whole thing was played as a disgusting/humorous moment.
16. And when there was a whole scene serving as a joke about "dropping the soap" and prison rape.
17. And just everything about Chuck basically using the fact that Alex thought he was gay to get close to her.
18. In Love Actually, when Mark was obsessed with his best friend's wife and confessed his love for her while his best friend was home, and then she actually seemed to like it.
19. In Grease, when Danny's friend asked him this about supposedly sleeping with Sandy.
20. And when Danny tried to force himself on Sandy.
21. And also when Sandy changed her entire personality for him at the end, leaving the film with a very sexist message.
22. And finally, literally everything about the movie Shallow Hal.
