TV Shows Critics Call Out for Token Black Characters

Reviewers often criticized the show for not having enough diversity among its main actors and for giving characters of color very little screen time. Charlie Wheeler was introduced as a romantic interest for both Ross and Joey in the later seasons. However, many viewers felt her character was mainly defined by her education and her relationships with the male leads. When she left the show, it felt sudden to some, who believed she was only added to address complaints about the lack of diversity in the original cast.








