Conversations regarding diversity have become increasingly essential, touching all areas of life, including our favorite TV series from the past. This leads us to the iconic 90s sitcom, Friends, which has come under attack lately for its lack of diversity.
Quinta Brunson, who many know and love from her portrayal in Abbott Elementary, recently aired her worries about Friends. During her hosting role on Saturday Night Live, Brunson used the chance to address the topic in her opening monologue. She noted the absence of black friends in the popular series.
Brunson also shared some light on her own show, Abbott Elementary, which follows a group of teachers in a largely black, state-funded elementary school in Philadelphia. When you compare the diversity on Abbott Elementary to Friends, the disparity is extremely obvious.
She commented in a comical manner, “I wanted to be on Saturday Night Live back in the day, but the audition process seemed to take a long time. Instead, I just created my own television show, made sure it became really popular, won a bunch of Emmys, and then I was asked to host.” It is so much simpler, it is so much simpler.”
She said, “It’s a network sitcom like, say, Friends,” and the audience responded by expressing their agreement with her comments. One notable difference is that the story is not about a group of buddies but rather about a group of professors. This time, rather than being in New York, it is in Philadelphia, and rather than not having any persons of African descent, it does.
Despite the lighthearted tone, the problem that Brunson brought out is a serious one that has been brought up by a number of people, including Martha Kauffman, who is one of the creators of Friends. In response to the lack of diversity on the program, Kauffman has voiced his embarrassment and has taken measures to make amends for the situation by committing four million dollars to a university in order to support African and African-American studies departments.
“I’ve learned a lot in the last 20 years,” Kauffman added, acknowledging that “admitting and accepting guilt is not easy.” She was reflecting on her path at the time. When you look at yourself in the mirror, it can be really unpleasant. The fact that I didn’t know better twenty-five years ago is embarrassing to me.
In addition, she stated, “It took me a considerable amount of time to start comprehending how I internalized systemic racism.” In an effort to become an ally and an anti-racist, I have been putting in a lot of effort. In addition, this appeared to me as a means by which I might take part in the discussion from the point of view of a white lady.
Even while the conversation about diversity in the entertainment industry is still going on, it appears that some progress is being made, at least in terms of acknowledging the faults of the past and moving toward a more inclusive future.
