MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

So, For Once, Australia Is In Agreement Over 'MAFS' Yearly Cheating Scandal?

So, For Once, Australia Is In Agreement Over 'MAFS' Yearly Cheating Scandal?

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

Channel Nine Already Have Plans To Turn Melissa Caddick's Life And Death Into A Drama TV Series

Channel Nine Already Have Plans To Turn Melissa Caddick's Life And Death Into A Drama TV Series

Everything The Current 'MAFS' Cast Has Said About This Year's Cheating Scandal

Everything The Current 'MAFS' Cast Has Said About This Year's Cheating Scandal

{headline}

{headline}

6 Dr. Seuss Books Will No Longer Be Published Due To "Hurtful And Wrong" Racist Depictions

6 Dr. Seuss Books Will No Longer Be Published Due To "Hurtful And Wrong" Racist Depictions

Netflix's 'Operation Varsity Blues' Is Offering A New, And Wild, Look At The College Admissions Scandal

Netflix's 'Operation Varsity Blues' Is Offering A New, And Wild, Look At The College Admissions Scandal

Britney Spears Shares Rare Photo With Teenage Sons Sean And Jayden Federline

Britney Spears Shares Rare Photo With Teenage Sons Sean And Jayden Federline

{headline}

{headline}

Julia Roberts And George Clooney Will Reunite On Screen For New Rom-Com, 'Ticket To Paradise'

Julia Roberts And George Clooney Will Reunite On Screen For New Rom-Com, 'Ticket To Paradise'

Shop With Purpose This Mardi Gras Week Thanks To The Pride Collections Giving Back

Shop With Purpose This Mardi Gras Week Thanks To The Pride Collections Giving Back

Rapper T.I. & His Wife Tiny Have Been Accused Of Sexual Assault By 11 Different Women

Rapper T.I. & His Wife Tiny Have Been Accused Of Sexual Assault By 11 Different Women

The Biggest Beauty Trends To Come Out Of Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

The Biggest Beauty Trends To Come Out Of Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

Anya Taylor-Joy Celebrated Her Golden Globes Win In Two Dazzling Custom Dior Gowns

Anya Taylor-Joy Celebrated Her Golden Globes Win In Two Dazzling Custom Dior Gowns

Dr Trisha Admits That Working On 'MAFS' Made Her "Feel Sick" For Compromising Others Mental Health

Dr Trisha Admits That Working On 'MAFS' Made Her "Feel Sick" For Compromising Others Mental Health

The Best Accessory At The 2021 Golden Globes? Sarah Paulson's Custom Prada Cast, Of Course

The Best Accessory At The 2021 Golden Globes? Sarah Paulson's Custom Prada Cast, Of Course

  1. Home
  2. News

‘Friends’ Co-Creator, Marta Kauffman, Responds To Criticism Of The Show’s All-White Cast

"I wish I knew then what I know today" - by Diandra Malivindi
  • 09 Jun 2020
‘Friends’ Co-Creator, Marta Kauffman, Responds To Criticism Of The Show’s All-White Cast

It comes as no surprise that Friends is one of the most loved television shows to come from the '90s. However, the series has taken its fair share of criticism for its many problematic storylines that would be far from acceptable in 2020.

And with Friends release on Netflix, the series was introduced to an entirely new generation of fans who found an issue with its depiction of the LGBTQ+ community and body-shaming, as well as it's lack of diversity through its all-white cast, with people of colour only appearing as temporary characters.

While lead cast members have come forward to share their thoughts on the casting choices, it seems that co-creator Marta Kauffman has also come forward to express her regret over her past decisions. 

Marta Kauffman
Getty

Admitting that she failed to do enough to promote diversity on the series, Kauffman became emotional as she spoke of her past decisions, at a 2020 ATX TV From The Couch Virtual Panel. 

"I wish I knew then what I know today," Kauffman admitted. "Sorry, I just wish I knew then what I know now. I would've made very different decisions."

"We always encouraged people of diversity in our company, but I didn't do enough," she added. "And now all I can think about is, 'What can I do?'".

_schwim_ View Profile
likes - View Post on Instagram
It's happening. @hbomax @jenniferaniston @courteneycoxofficial @lisakudrow @mleblanc @mattyperry4

However, this isn't the first time racial diversity in the hit-series has been a topic of discussion. Back in January, David Schwimmer, revealed how he made a "conscious push" for the series to hire more diverse actors.

"I was well aware of the lack of diversity and I campaigned for years to have Ross date women of colour," Schwimmer revealed to The Guardian. 

"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."

lisakudrow View Profile
likes - View Post on Instagram
Celebrating a Thursday night 25 years ago. We might be in different places but we are connected💕🍩🤳#STILLTHEREFORYOU #FRIENDS #friends25thanniversary #TWITTER@MATTHEWPERRY #COMEONALREADYJEN

In consolidation with Schwimmer, co-star Lisa Kudrow, spoke of how casting six white lead cast members simply would have never happened, if the series was made in 2020.

"It would not be an all-white cast, for sure. I'm not sure what else, but to me it should be looked at as a time capsule, not for what they did wrong," Kudrow revealed to The Times.

"Also, this show thought it was very progressive," she continued. "There was a guy whose wife discovered she was gay and pregnant, and they raised the child together. We had surrogacy, too. It was, at the time, progressive."

  • News
  • Lifestyle
  • Celebrity

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

So, For Once, Australia Is In Agreement Over 'MAFS' Yearly Cheating Scandal?

So, For Once, Australia Is In Agreement Over 'MAFS' Yearly Cheating Scandal?

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

Channel Nine Already Have Plans To Turn Melissa Caddick's Life And Death Into A Drama TV Series

Channel Nine Already Have Plans To Turn Melissa Caddick's Life And Death Into A Drama TV Series

Everything The Current 'MAFS' Cast Has Said About This Year's Cheating Scandal

Everything The Current 'MAFS' Cast Has Said About This Year's Cheating Scandal

{headline}

{headline}

6 Dr. Seuss Books Will No Longer Be Published Due To "Hurtful And Wrong" Racist Depictions

6 Dr. Seuss Books Will No Longer Be Published Due To "Hurtful And Wrong" Racist Depictions

Netflix's 'Operation Varsity Blues' Is Offering A New, And Wild, Look At The College Admissions Scandal

Netflix's 'Operation Varsity Blues' Is Offering A New, And Wild, Look At The College Admissions Scandal

Britney Spears Shares Rare Photo With Teenage Sons Sean And Jayden Federline

Britney Spears Shares Rare Photo With Teenage Sons Sean And Jayden Federline

{headline}

{headline}

Julia Roberts And George Clooney Will Reunite On Screen For New Rom-Com, 'Ticket To Paradise'

Julia Roberts And George Clooney Will Reunite On Screen For New Rom-Com, 'Ticket To Paradise'

Shop With Purpose This Mardi Gras Week Thanks To The Pride Collections Giving Back

Shop With Purpose This Mardi Gras Week Thanks To The Pride Collections Giving Back

Rapper T.I. & His Wife Tiny Have Been Accused Of Sexual Assault By 11 Different Women

Rapper T.I. & His Wife Tiny Have Been Accused Of Sexual Assault By 11 Different Women

The Biggest Beauty Trends To Come Out Of Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

The Biggest Beauty Trends To Come Out Of Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

Anya Taylor-Joy Celebrated Her Golden Globes Win In Two Dazzling Custom Dior Gowns

Anya Taylor-Joy Celebrated Her Golden Globes Win In Two Dazzling Custom Dior Gowns

Dr Trisha Admits That Working On 'MAFS' Made Her "Feel Sick" For Compromising Others Mental Health

Dr Trisha Admits That Working On 'MAFS' Made Her "Feel Sick" For Compromising Others Mental Health

The Best Accessory At The 2021 Golden Globes? Sarah Paulson's Custom Prada Cast, Of Course

The Best Accessory At The 2021 Golden Globes? Sarah Paulson's Custom Prada Cast, Of Course

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

6 issues for $35 -

Shop This Offer
6 issues for $35