While the show was heralded at the time for its representation of a lesbian couple, it also constantly mocked the character it called Charles, who had relationships with men and worked as a drag queen in Las Vegas using the name Helena Handbasket. Though the show took place in New York City, the show displayed little diversity among its roles, with only a few Black actors appearing throughout its 10 seasons. The crew reunited last year for a highly-anticipated reunion on HBO Max. Marta Kauffman, co-creator of Friends, in her office in Los Angeles in 2019. Key Backgroundįriends propelled its six white lead actors-Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer-to super stardom. 'It was, to a certain extent, a product of. Executive producer Kevin Bright told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021 that if they did the show today, "I don’t imagine they would probably end up being an all-white cast.“We kept referring to her as ‘Chandler’s father,’ even though Chandler’s father was trans,” Kauffman said. Marta Kauffman, co-creator and executive producer of Friends, also took part on the special and expounded further on the NBC shows diversity problem. Kauffman isn't the only person from the "Friends" production to talk about the backlash it's faced. David Schwimmer, who played Ross on the sitcom, said he pushed for diversity on set in an interview with The Guardian in 2020. 'I was well aware': David Schwimmer's comments on 'Friends' diversity – and 'Living Single' star Erika Alexander's response "I want to know I will act differently from now on. "I want to make sure from now on in every production I do that I am conscious in hiring people of color and actively pursue young writers of color," Kauffman said. I knew then I needed to course-correct."īeyond the multi-million donation , Kauffman also said she'll also be taking her efforts to the entertainment industry. "That was really the moment that I began to examine the ways I had participated. "I began to wrestle with my having bought into systemic racism in ways I was never aware of," Kauffman said. Kauffman, while initially rejecting the criticism, said her mindset shifted in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police. More: The 'Friends' reunion is everything fans hoped it would be The show's main characters were all white, but people of color were seen on screen occasionally in amall supporting roles, including Gabrielle Union, Lauren Tom and Aisha Tyler, who played love interests throughout the series' time on air. The NBC sitcom ran from 1994 until its last episode in 2004 and centered the camaraderie and romance between six friends living in New York City. "Brandeis needs to embrace that and recognize there’s an opportunity to lead with our department at the forefront." "We’re at a time in this country’s history where students are looking for opportunities to expand their intellectual and political horizons," professor of history and African and African American Studies Chad Williams also said in the statement. In a statement to USA TODAY, Brandeis University president Ron Liebowitz considered Kauffman's donation "so meaningful" to the school's African American Studies Department and also to the university as a whole. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know better 25 years ago." In her latest round of public self-reflection, Friends creator Marta Kauffman admitted that misgendering Chandler’s transgender parent, as played by Kathleen Turner, was a humorless misstep. "It’s painful looking at yourself in the mirror. "I’ve learned a lot in the last 20 years," Kauffman said in the interview published Wednesday.
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Part of the TV writer's plan to effect change includes a $4 million price tag after donating the money to her alma mater nine miles outside of Boston, Brandeis University, to establish an endowed professorship in the university's African American studies department. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, "Friends" co-creator Marta Kauffman addressed the critique she's heard over the years, saying that "admitting and accepting guilt" about the show's perceived shortcomings was "not easy." Now, more than 25 years after it first aired, one of the show's creators is speaking out. "Friends" is a huge part of American pop culture, but the TV show's legacy hasn't been above reproach after many critics have brought attention to the sitcom's lack of diversity. Watch Video: Aniston amazed by 'Friends'' continued popularity Marta Kauffman ’78, H’20, co-creator of the hit sitcom Friends, has pledged 4 million to establish an endowed professorship in the African and African American Studies Department at Brandeis University.
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