Friends actor Stephen Park recalls incident of racism on the sitcom's set: 'I had become so race-conscious and so angry that...'

During a recent episode of the Pod Meets World podcast, the actor reflected on his experience working on Friends' set.

Hollywood actor Stephen Park, known for his appearances in popular show Friends, recently shared a racist incident that he went through during the filming of the sitcom, in a recent podcast.

During a recent episode of the Pod Meets World podcast, the actor reflected on his experience working on Friends' set, where he appeared in two episodes—“The One With the Chicken Pox” (Season 2) and “The One With the Ultimate Fighting Champion” (Season 3). He opened up about the set environment, calling it toxic, and recalled a deeply unsettling moment when a crew member used racist language while referring to fellow actor James Hong.

“It was at the time; I felt it was kind of a toxic environment,” Park said. He shared how an assistant director called Hong to set and said, “Where the f--- is the Oriental guy? Get the Oriental guy.” The remark left him stunned, but what troubled him even more was the silence that followed as no one spoke up or called it out.

He shared that after writing his mission statement, he sent it to the L.A. Times, which responded by sending reporters to interview him. However, despite the interview, his statement was never published. “When I called the Screen Actors Guild after that happened, the person I spoke with recommended I write an article to the L.A. Times," he remarked.

Feeling unheard, Park decided to take action himself. He shared his statement with people on his email list, and soon, his words began to resonate far and wide. The letter struck a chord, gaining momentum as publications across the country reached out, eager to share his message.

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Park’s open letter wasn’t just about his experience on Friends but it was a call to address the deeper issue of discrimination in Hollywood. He reflected that if it had been a one-time incident, he might have moved on. But seeing such behavior time and again made him realize the need to speak up, challenging an industry-wide problem that had been overlooked for too long.

The iconic sitcom Friends, which aired for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, remains a beloved favorite among audiences worldwide. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry, the show continues to have a lasting impact. Sadly, Matthew Perry passed away in 2023, leaving behind a legacy cherished by fans.