Friends actor David Schwimmer explained that he was aware of the show’s lack of diversity among its cast while the show aired in the early 2000s.
Schwimmer, 53, who played Ross Geller, addressed some of the backlash the show has faced for outdated comedy about homophobia and sexism in a recent interview with the Guardian.
“I was well aware of the lack of diversity and I campaigned for years to have Ross date women of color,” he said. “One of the first girlfriends I had on the show was an Asian American woman, and later I dated African American women. That was a very conscious push on my part.”
Aisha Tyler was the only black actress to have a recurring role on the show in its 10-year run, but she didn’t make her appearance on the show until the ninth season. She played Dr. Charlie Wheeler, who had romantic relationships with both Joey Tribbiani and Geller.
Schwimmer also shared that he thinks there perhaps should be “an all-black Friends or an all-Asian Friends,” if the show was to be brought back at all.
He also dismissed the possibility of a Friends reboot, but said he could see the possibility of doing a one-off reunion.
