The conversation around diversity has been intensifying lately, making everyone think about its importance in all areas of life. One recent topic of discussion? The iconic 90s sitcom Friends.
Quinta Brunson, known for her role in Abbott Elementary, recently pointed out Friends for its lack of diversity. While hosting Saturday Night Live, Brunson used her monologue to highlight the absence of Black characters in the beloved show.
Brunson contrasted the diversity on Abbott Elementary, which features the lives of teachers in a predominantly Black, state-funded elementary school in Philadelphia, with the noticeable lack of diversity on Friends. The difference was strikingly evident.
With her well-known wit, she joked: “I wanted to be on SNL back in the day, but the audition process seemed long – so instead, I just created my own TV show, made sure it became really popular, won a bunch of Emmys, and then got asked to host. So much easier, so much easier.”
While the audience chuckled, the underlying point was clear. Brunson continued, “It’s a network sitcom like, say, Friends. Except, instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers. Instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia, and instead of not having Black people, it does.”
Her playful commentary sparked serious reflection, even from Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman. Kauffman has publicly expressed embarrassment over the show’s lack of diversity and pledged $4 million to support African and African-American studies at a university.
“I’ve learned a lot in the last 20 years,” Kauffman admitted. “Admitting and accepting guilt is not easy. It’s painful looking at yourself in the mirror. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know better 25 years ago.”
She added, “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.”
The discussion around diversity is far from over, but it’s clear that the conversation has advanced—even for a cherished sitcom like Friends.
76-year-old Susan Sarandon criticized for her clothing
AuthorAvokadoReading2 minViews848Published by27.06.2024
Celebrity and trailblazer Susan Sarandon has never been afraid to speak her truth, both in front of and behind the camera. Over the course of her decades-long career, she has won hearts with her unshakable sincerity and enthralled audiences with her talent.
Sarandon has had a lasting impact on the movie business, from her legendary part in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to her Oscar-winning performance in “Dead Man Walking.” She stands out, nevertheless, for reasons more than merely her skill as an actor: she embraces self-expression without hesitation.
Sarandon defies expectations in a field where rigid beauty and conformity standards are frequently the rule. Recently, Sarandon responded in her signature nonverbal way to critics who called her wardrobe choices “inappropriate.”
Rather than exchanging barbs with others, Sarandon let an image do the talking. She effectively silenced her critics by posting a picture of herself showing off her body in nothing but underwear and claiming the freedom to set her own boundaries for what is acceptable.
However, Sarandon’s disobedience goes beyond the world of style. At seventy-six, she ages gracefully and wisely, appreciating the value of time and the meaninglessness of social conventions. How does she keep looking so young? a healthy diet, frequent exercise, a lot of laughter, and, of course, an amazing makeup and hair team.
However, beneath the glitz and recognition is a lady who isn’t scared to follow her own path. Sarandon refuses to squander energy on life’s little pleasures and surrounds herself with others who possess the same boldness, curiosity, and vitality.
Susan Sarandon is a living example of the strength of perseverance and self-assurance in a society that frequently aims to limit and belittle people. She exhorts us all to accept our genuine selves and forge our own pathways in spite of the doubters because she personifies the spirit of defiance.
In addition to honoring Sarandon’s indomitable spirit, let’s take her lead by daring to be unabashedly ourselves and choosing authenticity above conformity. Susan Sarandon’s message is loud and clear in a world that frequently tries to suppress individuality: be brave, fearless, and most importantly, stay true to who you are.
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