As Friends celebrates its 30th anniversary, Aisha Tyler, who played Charlie Wheeler, shared her thoughts on her experience and the show’s legacy.
Friends was a popular sitcom that aired from 1994 to 2004, showing the lives of six friends in New York City. The show was loved for its humor but also faced criticism for its lack of diversity, especially considering New York’s multicultural population.
The show was often criticized for not representing the diversity of its setting. Many viewers pointed out that New York, with its large African American, Latino, and Asian populations, was not shown accurately. Some even said the show felt outdated due to its lack of representation.
Adam Goldberg, who briefly played Chandler’s roommate Eddie, called the show’s lack of diversity “insane.” He shared that many Black people never expected to see themselves on screen, but still related to the characters, no matter their race.
Marta Kauffman, one of the show’s creators, admitted that she had learned a lot over the years. She expressed regret about the lack of diversity, saying it was painful to accept her mistake. To support more inclusivity, Kauffman donated $4 million to Brandeis University’s African American studies department.
Aisha Tyler made history as the first Black actor with a recurring role on Friends. She played Charlie Wheeler, a paleontology professor who dates Ross. Tyler appeared in nine episodes and made a strong impact on the show.
Tyler remembered being nervous on set, but the cast made her feel welcome. She recalled a moment when Matthew Perry reassured her, saying her life would change after working on the show. Tyler also admired how Friends played with words and humor in a unique way.
In an interview, Tyler discussed the lack of diversity on the show. She mentioned that people were already talking about it during the show’s run, even before it became a larger conversation later on.
Tyler explained that the entertainment industry has long believed that “only white stories sell.” Despite this, she praised David Schwimmer for trying to bring more diversity to the show.
