Aisha Tyler Reflects on Race Issues in “Friends” 30 Years Later

As Friends celebrates its 30th anniversary, Aisha Tyler, one of the few Black actors to have appeared on the iconic sitcom, has opened up about her experience and the lack of diversity on the show.

Tyler, now 53, made history when she was cast as Charlie Wheeler, Ross Geller’s love interest, during season nine of the hit series.

While her role was groundbreaking in many ways, she recently shared the challenges she faced as a Black actress on a predominantly white show.

Tyler’s Time on Friends and the Lack of Diversity

Aisha Tyler joined Friends in 2003 as Charlie, a smart and successful paleontology professor who dated both Joey Tribbiani and Ross Geller.

Although her character was praised for being intelligent and sexy, Tyler has revealed that off-camera, she often found herself grappling with the reality of being one of the few Black faces on set.

In a recent interview with The Independent, Tyler reflected on how the lack of diversity on Friends was an issue even back when the show was airing.

“People talked quite a bit about it at the time,” she explained. “For a show set in the heart of Manhattan, it really lacked diversity.”

Tyler noted that while these conversations were happening, the absence of social media meant there wasn’t the same large-scale public debate that we see today.

Hollywood’s Longstanding Diversity Problem

Tyler’s experience on Friends mirrors the larger issue of representation in Hollywood.

Reflecting on her role, she explained that the industry’s perception at the time was that “only white stories sold,” a notion that she believes has persisted for far too long.

She shared her frustration with being turned down for roles simply because there was already one Black actor cast.

“It’s ridiculous,” Tyler said. “It’s like they’ve never seen two Black people in the same room in the real world.”

Her sentiments echo those of Adam Goldberg, who also had a brief stint on Friends as Joey’s roommate Eddie in season two.

Goldberg, now 53, pointed out that it wasn’t surprising to see a lack of diversity in shows like Friends, as it was simply the norm at the time.

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David Schwimmer’s Push for More Diversity

Tyler acknowledged that Friends co-star David Schwimmer, who played Ross and also co-directed some episodes, was one of the few people advocating for more diversity on the show.

Schwimmer’s efforts may not have been enough to shift the makeup of the main cast, but his awareness of the issue was appreciated by Tyler.

She also reflected on the positive relationships she formed during her time on the show, including her friendship with the late Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing.

Criticism of Friends Over the Years

Despite its success, Friends has faced increasing criticism over the years for its lack of inclusivity.

The show, which ran from 1994 to 2004, has been called out for being non-inclusive and for its occasional homophobic and racist undertones.

As younger generations discover the show, some have found its humor to be problematic by today’s standards.

Jennifer Aniston, who portrayed Rachel Green on the show, acknowledged this in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“There’s a whole generation of people, kids, who are now going back to episodes of Friends and finding them offensive,” she said.

“We should have thought it through, but I don’t think there was a sensitivity like there is now.”

Friends‘ Lack of Diversity: Julie and Charlie as Examples

Friends had very few non-white characters, and when they did, those characters were often treated unfairly.

Julie, Ross’s girlfriend in season two, was smart, kind, and shared Ross’s interests.

However, she was disliked by Rachel for no real reason, and the audience was meant to side with Rachel.

Ross eventually dumped Julie because “she wasn’t Rachel,” leaving Julie heartbroken and confused.

Similarly, Charlie, another non-white character who dated both Joey and Ross in later seasons, was also used to advance the stories of the white characters.

These women were not treated as equals but instead as obstacles to the white leads’ romantic lives, showing the show’s failure to portray non-white women fairly.

Progress in the Industry, But More Work to Do

Despite the challenges she faced, Tyler believes the television industry has made progress in terms of representation, but there is still more work to be done.

She emphasized the importance of having more women, people of color, and marginalized voices behind the camera, telling their own stories.

As Friends continues to be a beloved show for many, Tyler’s reflections show us how far Hollywood has come—and how much further it needs to go to ensure that everyone’s stories are heard and represented on screen.

Friends Co-Creator Donates $4M Due to Lack of Diversity in the Show

Marta Kauffman, co-creator of Friends, is donating $4 million to Brandeis University to support African and African American studies.

She made this decision after feeling embarrassed and guilty about the lack of diversity on Friends, which mainly featured white characters throughout its 10 seasons.

Kauffman said that after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, she realized the show didn’t reflect the diversity of New York City and acknowledged her role in supporting systemic racism.

She hopes her donation will help address this issue and support education on African cultures and history.

Aisha Tyler’s Key Achievements

Conclusion

• Aisha Tyler’s experience on Friends shines a light on the lack of diversity in the show and in television at the time.
• Even though she valued her role and the friendships she made, Tyler’s story shows how important it is to have more inclusive casting in Hollywood.
• Her comments remind us that, even though things are better now, there is still a long way to go when it comes to representing different races, cultures, and communities in TV and movies.
• As Tyler pointed out, change is happening, but it’s up to the industry to continue improving by giving everyone a chance to tell their stories.

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