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.
At 65, Madonna praised as the “most beautiful” woman in the world after sharing sultry photos
It’s difficult to believe that Madonna is now 65 years old. It feels like only yesterday that the Queen of Pop burst onto the scene, and ever since she’s been entertaining millions of people the world over every year.
At present, Madonna is on her much-anticipated Celebration Tour, having recovered from the nasty bacterial infection that left her hospitalized earlier this year.
Recent snaps of the Like a Virgin singer were met with widespread praise among her legion of fans, as the 65-year-old continues to prove that age is just a number… and that she’s far from done with regards to being a prominent force in the music industry.
Fans were right to be concerned earlier this year in summer, when Madonna was suddenly hospitalized.
Initial reports were worrying enough, but it soon became apparent that her health scare was even more grave than first thought.
The Queen of Pop had been set to embark on her highly anticipated Celebration Tour in Vancouver on July 15 – which would have seen her perform her best hits from 1983 to now in 53 shows across North America and Europe – but was forced to postpone it after she was rushed to hospital with a bacterial infection.
Initial reports revealed Madonna had been found unresponsive on Saturday, June 24, and was subsequently to a New York City hospital where she was intubated.
Not long after, a relative of the Grammy winning artist told Entertainment Tonight that her family had been “preparing for the worst” after the news first broke. “For the past couple of days, no one really knew which direction this was going to turn, and her family was preparing for the worst,” they said.
“That is why it was kept a secret since Saturday,” they added. “Everyone believed that we may lose her, and that has been the reality of the situation.”
Radar Online, meanwhile, revealed that Madonna’s stint in hospital was more severe than initially thought – medics who treated the unresponsive star at her apartment were reportedly forced to administer a NARCAN injection.
Fortunately, the singer was eventually released from hospital and could continue her recovery at home. Her aforementioned Celebration Tour is now in full swing, with the Vogue star gaining widespread praise for her looks after uploading a series of photos from her tour.
According to reports, the Paris, France leg of Madonna’s tour attracted particular attention, with fans showering her with compliments. One even dubbed her “the most beautiful woman in the world.”
One person wrote on Twitter: “How is this woman sixty five years old? Please share your secrets with us and your filter. QUEEN 👸👑“
Another wrote: “You look like a woman of 35 years old”
A third added: “THE most famous woman ever in front of a lens. Still the most exotic, most beguiling thing I’ve ever seen ❤️🔥“
Famous fashion designer Donatella Versace, meanwhile, praised her long time friend as being “the most beautiful”.
What do you think? Do you agree that Madonna looks astonishingly good for her age? Let us know!
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