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Friends Reunion Director Addresses Diversity Criticism

 


The Reunion addressed critics who questioned why black actors didn't appear on the show and noted that the special lacked diversity.
Friends Reunion

The director of The Friends: The Reunion addressed critics who questioned why black actors didn't appear on the show and noted that the special lacked diversity.

Ben Winston, 39, spoke to the Sunday Times about the special, which aired on HBO Max on May 27. During the interview, Ben Winston hit back at the backlash, noting that those who say the special wasn't variety "didn't see it."

“We have Malala and Mindy Kaling and BTS [South Korean boy band]. There are three women from Ghana, including one who tells how friends saved her life. Two boys from Kenya. Three children from India,” he said. "What more variety do they want in this reunion? The cast is the same. The movie was shot in 1994. I think it's remarkable how well it has stood the test of time."

When asked about complaints about Black Friends representatives, such as Aisha Tyler, who did not appear on the special, Winston replied, "Not everyone joined us. But I'm really happy with the show we were able to set up."

Tyler appeared as Ross' girlfriend, played by David Schwimmer, in nine 2003 episodes.

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"Friends," which debuted in September 1994 on NBC, has long been criticized for its lack of variety. The show's six main actors — Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry — are all white.

"Friends" creator Marta Kaufman and executive producer Kevin Bright recently responded to the criticism, telling The Hollywood Reporter that the actors were chosen because of their association.

"We didn't intend to have an all-white crew," Bright said. "That wasn't the intent either. The chemistry between these six actors obviously speaks for itself."

Kaufman added, "There is a lot I could say if I only knew what I know now. At that time there was no conscious decision. We saw people of all races, religions and colours. These are the six people we chose."

Bright went on to say he has no regrets about the "Friends" development, which ended in May 2004.

"I would have been crazy if I hadn't hired these six actors. What can I say? I wish Lisa was black? I loved these actors," Bright told outlets. "I loved the show and I loved the experience."

Kaufman told The Hollywood Reporter that there were "a hundred things" she would change on the show if she had the opportunity.

"I've talked about it in the past and I really have strong feelings about being part of a system, but it just boils down to what I didn't know," she said.

How to watch Friends Reunion from anywhere in 2022?

I was shocked to learn that Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and the entire crew are meeting again for a special Friends Reunion! I've never missed an episode before, so I was disappointed to learn that it was only available in the US. After some testing, I found a quick fix to watch it on HBO Max.


You can watch Friends Reunion from anywhere with a VPN. HBO Max holds the exclusive rights to broadcast this special, but it is geo-blocked in the United States. However, you can bypass these restrictions by using a VPN. It works by giving you a new IP address, so HBO Max thinks you're in the US. So you can watch Friends Reunion from anywhere.

How many episodes are there in Friends Reunion?

Friends fans have been waiting for the reboot since Rachel got off the plane in 2004. More than fifteen years later, the series has continued to attract new audiences with its intriguing yet simple basics. The series features three young men and three young women - all living in New York, all close friends, and all endowed with characters that complement each other perfectly. Now, it looks like fans of the show — those who were around when it first aired, as well as those who jumped on the bandwagon a decade later — will finally get their wish. Friends will be back with new material when HBO Max airs the entire sitcom as part of the streaming platform's launch

Where can I watch Friends Reunion 2022?

There are many VPNs available, and I tested over 30 of them to find the best one for HBO Max. I recommend ExpressVPN because it bypasses geoblocks quickly and offers very fast speeds. You can try it risk-free before you decide, as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don't like it, you can ask for a full refund.

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