News | Entertainment
6 Jul 2025 8:19
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Marta Kauffman has pledged $4 million to African and African American studies as she apologised for the lack of diversity on 'Friends'

    The 65-year-old, who created the sitcom with David Crane, 64, gave the donation to her alma mater, the Boston area's Brandeis University, to create an endowed professorship


    Her Marta F Kauffman '78 Professorship in African and African American Studies will support a distinguished scholar with a concentration in the study of the peoples and cultures of Africa.

    It will also help the department to recruit more expert scholars and teachers, map long-term academic and research priorities and provide new opportunities for students to engage in interdisciplinary scholarship, according to the university.

    Kauffman said she felt "embarrassed" 'Friends' featured a predominantly white cast.

    She told the LA Times: "I've learned a lot in the last 20 years.

    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."

    It took until 2002 for 'Friends' to cast Aisha Tyler, 51, who was the first black actress to become a series regular on the show.

    Tyler played Dr Charlie Wheeler, a paleontology professor who ended up dating Ross Geller, played by David Schwimmer, in season nine - but she only lasted nine episodes.

    Kauffman added she regrets making the six main characters all white, but is still happy that Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry were all part of the series.

    She told the Hollywood Reported before the 'Friends' reunion special was

    shown: "I would have been insane not to hire those six actors. What can I say? I wish Lisa was black?"

    Schwimmer, 55, said in 2019 he was always pushing for diversity on 'Friends'.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     06 Jul: Gabriella Wilde describes her style as "tomboyish"
     06 Jul: Debbie Harry took drugs to avoid an "emotional rollercoaster" during her younger years
     06 Jul: Travis Kelce struggled to prepare for Saturday Night Live because he "can't really read that well"
     06 Jul: Idris Elba has insisted he will never watch The Wire
     06 Jul: Doja Cat is determined to avoid being a "little monster" who "just wants success"
     05 Jul: Jessie J is feeling "positive and grateful" following her breast cancer surgery, but she is "missing being an active mum" and has stopped taking pain medication
     05 Jul: Olivia Munn has alleged a director tried to "ruin her chances" of working after a disagreement on set
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has been left annoyed by a couple of key factors in their 31-27 win over France in Dunedin More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Our newsroom's revealed more than 200 people were able to enter New Zealand on work visas for defunct businesses later exposed as fronts for a network of cannabis grow houses in Auckland More...



     Today's News

    Environment:
    A kava boom is unfolding across the Pacific — but some leaders warn it's hurting families 8:17

    Rugby:
    All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has been left annoyed by a couple of key factors in their 31-27 win over France in Dunedin 8:17

    Tennis:
    Another milestone for 24-time Grand Slam tennis champion Novak Djokovic 8:07

    Golf:
    Golfer Kazuma Kobori has carded a four-under par 68 to be seven shots off the lead after round three of the European Tour's latest event in Munich 8:07

    Entertainment:
    Gabriella Wilde describes her style as "tomboyish" 8:06

    Business:
    Our newsroom's revealed more than 200 people were able to enter New Zealand on work visas for defunct businesses later exposed as fronts for a network of cannabis grow houses in Auckland 7:57

    Motoring:
    To qualifying for Formula One's British Grand Prix 7:47

    Equestrian:
    An historic double for New Zealand equestrian in Germany 7:37

    Entertainment:
    Debbie Harry took drugs to avoid an "emotional rollercoaster" during her younger years 7:36

    Law and Order:
    Cassie has emerged as a powerful figure after mixed verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs case 7:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd