The Friends season 8 decision to have Joey and Rachel hook up has long confused fans.
The show's bosses have now admitted they knew the romance would be "controversial" and loved that it was "wrong", reports The Sun.
The pair began an on-screen relationship after several years of Joey flirting with Rachel.
The creator of the show David Crane has now said: "The Joey/Rachel thing I know is controversial.
"I love it. I love it because it's wrong – and we knew going in: this is wrong. And that happens in life."