It’s becoming more and more important to talk about diversity, and the popular 90s sitcom Friends has become the center of that argument. Recently, Quinta Brunson, the talented actor from Abbott Elementary, talked about how the show doesn’t have enough diverse cast members while she was hosting Saturday Night Live.
Brunson made fun of the fact that Friends didn’t have any black friends by comparing it to her own show, Abbott Elementary, which has a diverse cast and setting. People in the crowd were moved by what she said, which led to a serious discussion about how women are portrayed on TV.
One of Friends’ creators, Martha Kauffman, has also said that the show has flaws and that she feels embarrassed about it. She has also promised $4 million to help African and African-American studies programs. The path Kauffman took to understand and fight systemic racism is a strong example of how to grow and be responsible.
It’s clear that progress is being made as the conversation about diversity goes on. The difference between Friends and Abbott Elementary shows a big move toward acceptance. It’s good to see leaders in the industry admitting they made mistakes in the past and trying to make the future more diverse.
