‘You Write What You Know’: FRIENDS Star Lisa Kudrow Defends Show’s Lack of Diversity, Says Writers Had ‘No Business Writing Stories About the Experiences of Being a Person of Color’
Friends star Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay in the show, defended the show’s lack of diversity in her recent interview. Despite being so popular, people have pointed out over the years that the show lacks diversity. The show takes place in New York, one of the most diverse places in America, but still had no signs of diversity. Lisa Kudrow recently defended the show’s creators, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, saying “When it’s going to be a comedy that’s character-driven, you write what you know.”
Lisa Kudrow defended the show’s creators
Lisa Kudrow admitted that the show lacks diversity but defended the creators of the show saying, “They have no business writing stories about the experiences of being a person of color.” She told The Daily Beast:
“I feel like it was a show created by two people who went to Brandeis and wrote about their lives after college. And for shows especially, when it’s going to be a comedy that’s character-driven, you write what you know.”
She admitted the problem but pointed out a different problem, “I think at that time, the big problem that I was seeing was, ‘Where’s the apprenticeship?’” she said.
Also read: Friends: 6 Times Rachel Was The Most Toxic Friend Ever To Ross
Marta Kauffman also recently acknowledged the problem
Marta Kauffman, one of the creators of the show, herself acknowledged the show’s lack of diversity and took full responsibility for it explaining that she “began to wrestle with … having bought into systemic racism in ways [she] was never aware of” only after the death of George Floyd. She said,
“I’ve learned a lot in the last 20 years. 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. I knew then I needed to course-correct.”
The creator of Friends donated $4 million
Marta Kauffman mentioned that she donated $4 million to Brandeis University in Boston. The money will establish an endowed professorship in the African and African American studies department. She said, talking about the donation, “It didn’t unburden me, but it lifted me up.”
All 10 seasons of Friends are available for streaming on HBO Max.
Source: The Daily Beast
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