She says the show “really lacked diversity.”
Friends star Aisha Tyler, who played David Schwimmer’s on-screen girlfriend Charlie Wheeler, has spoken up about a casting issue with the iconic show.
Aisha Tyler has shared her thoughts on the show’s lack of diversity, reflecting on her own experience as one of the few Black cast members on Friends.
The 53-year-old actress made her first appearance in season nine back in 2003, becoming the only Black actress to have a recurring role.
She played Charlie Wheeler, a paleontology professor who dated Ross Geller (David Schwimmer
Before her romance with Ross, Charlie was involved with his friend Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), which created some tension between the two friends.
Tyler revealed that the predominantly white cast was a topic of conversation even at the time, not just something people talk about in hindsight.
She explained, “It wasn’t like it was just something that people looked back at later and said, ‘Wait a minute.’
“No, at the time, people talked quite a bit about the fact that, for a show that was set in the heart of Manhattan, it really lacked diversity.”
In her interview with The Independent, she added, “But we didn’t have social media back then, so it wasn’t the large-scale conversation that it became later.”
Adam Goldberg, also 53, reflected on his short run on Friends, where he played Eddie, Joey’s creepy roommate, for three episodes in season two.
Tyler also mentioned that Schwimmer, who co-directed the show, was actively trying to push for more diversity within the cast.
She talked about the friendships she formed while on the show, particularly her bond with the late Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing.
Perry tragically passed away last year from a drug overdose.
Friends has faced a lot of criticism over the years, with some accusing it of being non-inclusive, racist, and homophobic.
Jennifer Aniston, 55, who played Rachel Green, acknowledged the issue in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, admitting that the show should have considered these things more thoughtfully.
She said: “There’s a whole generation of people, kids, who are now going back to episodes of Friends and find them offensive. We should have thought it through, but I don’t think there was a sensitivity like there is now.”
Tyler also opened up about her own experiences in the industry, mentioning that she was once rejected for a role because the production had already cast a Black character.
While she acknowledges that progress has been made, she still encourages more women, people of color, and other marginalized groups to “get behind the camera and tell their stories.”
In another bit of Friends news, fans were surprised to learn that Jennifer Aniston had dated one of her co-stars for two years.
It’s been more than two decades since Aniston’s real-life romance with her Friends guest star ended, but some fans are only now finding out about it.
During her time on the show, Aniston worked alongside actor Tate Donovan, now 60, whom she had dated for two years prior.
Tate, known for his roles in shows like The O.C., appeared in season four of Friends as Joshua Burgin, a love interest for Rachel. He hired her as his personal shopper, and their characters briefly dated before breaking up later in the season.
Aniston and Donovan had actually dated in real life for two years after meeting in 1995, but by the time he took on the role, their relationship was coming to an end.
He added that it was “just tough” and made it clear that they didn’t start dating after meeting on Friends.
Tate clarified, “In fact, we had dated for two years before then, and it was over by the time we were on Friends together.”
