Sherri Shepherd reportedly lost ‘Friends’ role for tweaking show’s whiteness

Sherri Shepherd reportedly lost ‘Friends’ role for tweaking show’s whiteness

06/23/2020

Sherri Shepherd once sent the co-creator of “Friends” a tongue-in-cheek card about the show’s lack of diversity, according to the former “The View” host’s best friend, Jawn Murray.

But it allegedly marked her last appearance on the show. “Sherri was one of the few black faces that was on ‘Friends.’ Her, Aisha Tyler and Gabrielle Union. And Sherri was on ‘Friends’ at a time that you sent out postcards to let people know, ‘Hey, I’m going to be on TV,’ ” Murray recalled to ABC News’ Linsey Davis.

Apparently, Shepherd wrote on her postcard that included a photo of herself: “ ‘Friends’ get a little color.”

Murray added, “Well, [Shepherd] also sent that postcard to [‘Friends’ co-creator] Marta [Kauffman], and she got the postcard and [Shepherd] was never asked back on the show.”

A rep for Kauffman didn’t get back to us, but she admitted to not doing enough to champion diversity on the show at the virtual ATX Television Festival this month.

“Now, all I can think about is, what can I do, what can I do differently? How can I run my show in a new way? That’s something I wish I knew when I started show-running,” Kauffman said. Seems like she had a hint from Shepherd back then?

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