'Friends' co-creator Marta Kauffman speaks on lack of diversity in the show, says she's 'embarrassed'

'Friends' co-creator Marta Kauffman apologised for the lack of diversity in one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time and said it was difficult for her to accept the criticism that the show received. The sitcom, which was set in New York City, featured an all-white cast that includes actors Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. It ran from 1994 to 2004 but rarely featured a character of colour.

Kauffman, who in the past had said that it was 'difficult and frustrating' to understand why people were so critical of the show, believes she realised the importance of on-screen representation following the George Floyd incident.

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Kauffman told The Los Angeles Times that she is embarrassed to have not known better 25 years ago.
She added that post the George Floyd incident, she 'began to wrestle with having bought into systemic racism in ways she was never aware of.' It was then that Kauffman realised that she needed to course-correct.

Kauffman further added that she has pledged $4 million to her alma mater, Brandeis University, to fund an endowed chair in the school's African and African American studies department, one of the oldest in the US.
The writer-creator concluded that in her future projects she will ensure that she has a diverse team on board.