Friends Co-Creator Marta Kauffman Tearfully Admits She ‘Didn’t Do Enough’ for Diversity
Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman broke down while acknowledging that the fan-favorite sitcom lacked diversity.
Kauffman co-created the series with David Crane, and the series has recently come under scrutiny for not being diverse. While speaking at a virtual 2020 ATX TV festival, Kauffman became emotional when she was asked what she had wished she had known back then.
“I wish I knew then what I know today,” Kauffman, 63, said, per Page Six. “Sorry, I just wish I knew then what I know now. I would’ve made very different decisions.”
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“I mean we’ve always encouraged people of diversity in our company, but I didn’t do enough and now all I can think about is what can I do?” she continued. “What can I do differently? How can I run my show in a new way? And that’s something I not only wish I knew when I started slow running, but I wish I knew all the way up through last year.”
Friends was a beloved sitcom that ran 10-seasons but, the main cast was all white.
David Schwimmer, who played Ross Geller, previously told The Guardian that he tried to make a “conscious push” for more diversity.
“I was well aware of the lack of diversity and I campaigned for years to have Ross date women of color,” he said. “One of the first girlfriends I had on the show was an Asian American woman, and later I dated African American women. That was a very conscious push on my part.”
If you recall Ross dated Julie, played by Lauren Tom, in season 2, and a character called Charlie, played by Aisha Tyler, in seasons 9 and 10.