News | Entertainment
8 Jul 2025 21:37
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
     08 Jul: Caterina Murino is pregnant
     08 Jul: Lainey Wilson believes it is essential to "dedicate" days to her fiance
     08 Jul: Henry Cavill refused to give David Corenswet any advice about playing Superman
     08 Jul: Kelly Osbourne has hailed her father Ozzy Osbourne's final Black Sabbath concert one of the "most magical experiences" of her life
     08 Jul: Brad Pitt's first attempt at method acting caused chaos thanks to his "diabolical" flatulence
     08 Jul: Michael Douglas has "no real intentions" of acting again
     08 Jul: Jennifer Aniston finds The Morning Show to be "a beast to film"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks assistant coach Scott Hansen has responded to TMO interference by laying a challenge at the foot of his team ahead of test two against France in Wellington on Saturday More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A business spokesperson says artificial intelligence will inevitably destroy jobs More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    A pedestrian has been seriously injured after being hit by a car in Blenheim's Islington 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Caterina Murino is pregnant 21:06

    Entertainment:
    Lainey Wilson believes it is essential to "dedicate" days to her fiance 20:36

    Entertainment:
    Henry Cavill refused to give David Corenswet any advice about playing Superman 20:06

    Entertainment:
    Kelly Osbourne has hailed her father Ozzy Osbourne's final Black Sabbath concert one of the "most magical experiences" of her life 19:36

    International:
    Trump announces goods from Japan and South Korea face 25 per cent tariffs from August 1 19:07

    Entertainment:
    Brad Pitt's first attempt at method acting caused chaos thanks to his "diabolical" flatulence 19:06

    Law and Order:
    Five military-style semi-automatic weapons have been found stored in children's bedrooms - in a Napier home 18:57

    Rugby League:
    Tanah Boyd will debut for the Warriors at halfback, replacing Luke Metcalf in the NRL lineup to face the Wests Tigers at Mt Smart on Sunday 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Michael Douglas has "no real intentions" of acting again 18:36


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd