The 1994 classic sitcom Friends rose to fame almost overnight, however, has been rightfully criticised for its lack of diversity. Co-creator of the show Marta Kauffman, in her latest interview with The LA Times, said that she initially rejected the criticism which she deemed "difficult and frustrating" backlash but admits to feeling "embarrassed" that she pledged four million dollars to Brandeis University.
In an interview on June 29, Kauffman said that her donation will fund an endowed chair of her alma mater's African and African American studies department. Reportedly, the department at Brandeis is one of the oldest in the United States.
Reportedly, she was only 38 when the show first premiered on NBC on September 22, 1994. Although the show was set in New York City, she and co-creator David Crane had curated an all-caucasian cast of six lead actors who were rarely seen interacting with people of colour or of different ethnicities than theirs.
In spite of the glaring lack of diversity, Friends did not only draw an audience of 16.9 million viewers by the end of season one, it continues to remain one of the popular shows with millions binge-watching the show. The show that concluded in 2004 is a cornerstone in American sitcom culture which was celebrated in a Netflix special last year titled Friends: The Reunion.
Speaking elaborately about how the Murder of George Floyd and ensuing Black Lives Matter protests made her re-evaluate her standing in the country's framework of systematic racism, she said, "It took me a long time to begin to understand how I internalized systemic racism. I’ve been working really hard to become an ally, an anti-racist. And this seemed to me to be a way that I could participate in the conversation from a white woman’s perspective."
Marta's Pledges Money To African and African American Studies
The University in a statement noted that the professorship by Marta Kauffman in African and African American Studies will "support a distinguished scholar with a concentration in the study of the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African diaspora." They added that the "gift" will help the department to recruit more expert scholars and teachers and map long-term academic and research priorities. It will also aid in opening new avenues for students to engage in interdisciplinary scholarship.
While Kevin Bright, a co-creator of the show, remained firm in his casting choices, Kauffman says she's content having reassessed herself which has received a positive response from the audience.
"I’ve gotten nothing but love. It’s been amazing. It surprised me to some extent because I didn’t expect the news to go this wide. I’ve gotten a flood of emails and texts and posts that have been nothing but supportive. I’ve gotten a lot of ‘It’s about time.' Not in a mean way. It’s just people acknowledging it was long overdue," she was quoted as saying.
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