Friends Actress Aisha Tyler Reflects On Lack Of Diversity In Iconic Sitcom

Aisha Tyler has shared her experiences on Friends as it celebrates its 30th anniversary, reflecting on her time on the beloved sitcom and its legacy.

The popular TV show Friends aired from 1994 to 2004, capturing the lives of six close friends navigating their 20s and 30s in bustling New York City.Despite being a lighthearted sitcom, it became one of the most iconic shows of all time, receiving an incredible 62 Primetime Emmy nominations during its decade-long run.

However, as beloved as it is, the series has not escaped criticism, particularly concerning its portrayal—or lack thereof—of diversity.

The hit sitcom Friends has been called out for its lack of diversity.NBC

The show has often been called out for failing to represent the diversity of its New York City setting, a city where over 67% of the population identifies as African American, Hispanic, Latino, or Asian, according to Insight Vacations.One viewer commented: “I always side-eyed that show. They were in New York and everyone was white.”Another added: “Friends literally took place in NYC, one of, if not the most diverse place in the world,”

A third viewer weighed in, saying: “The show is very outdated now, it’s problematic.”The lack of diversity isn’t just something viewers have noticed over the years—it’s also been acknowledged by some who worked on the show.Adam Goldberg, who briefly played Chandler’s quirky roommate Eddie, expressed his thoughts to The Independent, calling the show’s lack of diversity “insane.”

Friends star Adam Goldberg says the sitcom’s lack of diversity is ‘insane.’NBC

Goldberg further elaborated: “I’ve heard Black people speak about this and it’s like, you never expected to see yourself, so when you didn’t, it was not a surprise, and you ended up identifying to characters, irrespective of their race.”Meanwhile, Marta Kauffman, one of the show’s creators, has spoken about her evolving perspective. She told The Los Angeles Times: “I’ve learned a lot in the last 20 years.”She also acknowledged her regret, saying: “Admitting and accepting guilt is not easy. It’s painful looking at yourself in the mirror. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know better 25 years ago.”

Looking back on the show, Kauffman has since made efforts to support more inclusivity. She pledged $4 million to her alma mater, Brandeis University, to fund its African and African American studies department.Aisha Tyler made history as the first Black actor to land a recurring role on Friends. She played Charlie Wheeler, a paleontology professor who becomes romantically involved with Ross, played by David Schwimmer.Tyler appeared in nine episodes, leaving a significant mark on the show during her time on set.

Aisha Tyler was the only Black person with a recurring role on Friends.NBC

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Tyler reflected on her time working on Friends. She expressed how welcoming and kind the cast was during her stint on the show.She shared a lighthearted moment, recalling: “My knees were knocking. I was shocked you couldn’t hear my teeth chattering the entire time I was on set.”Tyler also recounted: “We walked out, and we did a curtain call [where] everybody [does a] bow to the audience at the end of the show. As we’re backstage, Matthew Perry just leans in and goes, ‘Get ready for your life to change.'”

The Criminal Minds actress revealed how nervous she had been during her early days on set. She shared how Matthew Perry’s kindness reassured her, despite her anxiety. “I was terrified, just trying to keep it together,” she said.As a longtime fan of the show, Tyler explained how her familiarity with its distinct style and humor helped her prepare for the role. She noted: “It had a way of kind of turning things on their head and emphasizing words in different ways [than] you would in normal conversation… They just had a way with wordplay and away with them with delivering lines. It just felt unique to the show.”

Aisha Tyler says the sitcom ‘really lacked diversity.’NBC

In an interview with The Independent, Tyler also addressed the broader conversations around Friends and diversity.Reflecting on her unique experience, she shared an anecdote about being recognized on the street and recalled: “It was such a common refrain at the time.”She continued: “It wasn’t like it was just something that people looked back at later and said, ‘Wait a minute.’ No, at the time, people talked quite a bit about the fact that, for a show that was set in the heart of Manhattan, it really lacked diversity.”

Aisha Tyler says Friends reflected the film and TV industry belief that ‘only white stories sold.’NBC

Tyler acknowledged the lack of large-scale discussions about representation at the time, saying: “But we didn’t have social media back then, so it wasn’t the large-scale conversation that it became later.”She also highlighted the entertainment industry’s long-standing biases, explaining: “I mean, that’s just been the attitude in Hollywood for a long time.”Despite these challenges, Tyler praised David Schwimmer for his efforts in advocating for more diversity within the show during its original run.

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