The Office is one of the most popular and well-received shows NBC has ever produced in the 21st century. However, Mindy Kaling, who played customer service rep Kelly Kapoor throughout the show's entire run, does not believe the show would get away with its material now like it did back when it aired.

Though The Office thrived in its cringe-inducing and deadpan humor, its comedy delved into sensitive topics such as racism, sexism, and harassment. However, Kaling believes the way The Office approached these topics may not register with modern audiences nowadays as it did back then.

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Kaling admitted that while talking with those who worked on The Office, they realized the material they wrote would not fly today because of how different audiences are today. “The writers who I’m still in touch with now, we always talk about how so much of that show we probably couldn’t make now,” Kaling said during an interview with Good Morning America. “Tastes have changed, and honestly, what offends people has changed so much now. I think that actually is one of the reasons the show is popular because people feel like there’s something kind of fearless about it or taboo that it talks about on the show.” Kaling also explained what her character would have done in the modern era. “I think she would have quit Dunder Mifflin to become an influencer and then probably be canceled almost immediately. Actually, most of the characters on that show would be canceled by now.”

Most of that irreverent humor came from the show's main character, the socially inept regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch, Michael Scott. Throughout the show's run, Scott would make horrible comments believing they came from a place of understanding. Even though his employees knew what he said was offensive, they knew there was no malicious intent behind it. That's why Scott was endearing to audiences and hilarious. There was a charm to his inability to connect with people despite making pretty blatant racist and sexist comments.

Kaling's comments hold some water because even though Scott never intended to harm anyone with his comments, they were still offensive nonetheless. Scott's comments in The Office would create controversy at Dunder Mifflin, but neither he nor the company ever received any real repercussions for his actions. That may send a message to those watching that making offensive comments like that won't have any real consequences in the workplace as long as you have a high enough position.

At the same time, The Office was just a TV show. Those moments in the show came off as humorous because the audience recognized that they were not socially acceptable dialogue to say to others. One could argue that The Office provides a template of how not to act in the workplace from Michael Scott's actions alone. He may have ranked high in the Dunder Mifflin food chain, but the show made it abundantly clear that while he was excellent as a salesman, he was not qualified as a manager.

The Office can be streamed on Peacock.

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Source: Good Morning America/YouTube