Quinta Brunson recently spoke up about the popular TV series Friends, highlighting its lack of Black characters.
Friends remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, captivating audiences even two decades after it ended.
The show follows the everyday lives of six adults living in Manhattan, filled with humor, romantic entanglements, and unforgettable moments. Its fan base continues to grow every year as new viewers discover its charm.
However, Friends has not escaped criticism over the years.
One of the main points of contention is its predominantly white cast, with non-white actors often limited to minor roles. Aisha Tyler, for instance, portrayed Charlie Wheeler, a palaeontologist who dated both Joey and Ross in the show’s ninth season. Despite her significant role, Tyler has mentioned that fans often refer to her as the ‘Black girl from Friends.’
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Tyler shared: “It was a massive hit worldwide. Even today, people come up to me and say ‘Charlie’ or ‘Black girl from Friends.’”
Tyler remains the only Black actor to have had a recurring role on the series.
Moreover, the Friends 2021 reunion special also faced backlash for not including any Black cast members. Notable omissions included Phil Lewis, who played Chandler’s boss, and Gabrielle Union, who also portrayed a love interest for both Ross and Joey.
Marta Kauffman, one of the show’s co-creators, addressed this criticism in an interview with the Los Angeles Times: “I’ve learned a lot over the past 20 years. Owning up to these mistakes is difficult and painful. I’m ashamed that I didn’t know better back then.”
In response to her growing awareness of systemic racism, Kauffman donated $4 million to fund an endowed chair for the African and African American Studies Department at her alma mater.
Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe on Friends, has also stood by Kauffman and co-creator David Crane. Speaking to The Daily Beast, she remarked: “The show was created by two people who went to Brandeis University and drew inspiration from their post-college lives.”
Brunson shared her thoughts while discussing her own show, Abbott Elementary. “I had wanted to be on SNL, but the audition process seemed daunting. So I created my own show, made it popular, won some Emmys, and then got invited to host. Much easier!”
She then described Abbott Elementary, saying, “It’s a network sitcom like Friends, but instead of focusing on a group of friends in New York, it’s about a group of teachers in Philadelphia. And unlike Friends, it features Black characters.”
