The conversation around diversity has been heating up lately, with many reflecting on its importance in all areas of life. One recent focal point? The iconic 90s sitcom Friends.
Quinta Brunson, widely recognized for her role in Abbott Elementary, recently called out Friends for its lack of diversity. Hosting Saturday Night Live, Brunson used her monologue to shine a light on the issue, pointing out the absence of Black characters in the beloved show.
During her time in the spotlight, Brunson didn’t shy away from comparing the diversity on Abbott Elementary—which follows the lives of teachers in a predominantly Black, state-funded elementary school in Philadelphia—to the glaring lack of it on Friends. The contrast was hard to miss.
With her trademark wit, she quipped: “I wanted to be on SNL back in the day, but the audition process seemed long – so instead, I just created my own TV show, made sure it became really popular, won a bunch of Emmys, and then got asked to host. So much easier, so much easier.”The audience laughed, but the message was clear. Brunson continued, “It’s a network sitcom like, say, Friends. Except, instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers. Instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia, and instead of not having Black people, it does.”
While her commentary was playful, it sparked serious reflection, including from Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman. Kauffman has openly expressed embarrassment over the show’s lack of diversity, even pledging $4 million to support African and African-American studies at a university.
“I’ve learned a lot in the last 20 years,” Kauffman admitted. “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.”
She went on to say, “It took me a long time to begin to understand how I internalized systemic racism. I’ve been working really hard to become an ally, an anti-racist. And this seemed to me to be a way that I could participate in the conversation from a white woman’s perspective.”
The discussion around diversity is far from over, but it’s clear that the debate has moved forward—even for a beloved sitcom like Friends.
