Tracee Ellis Ross Says ‘Girlfriends’ Cast ‘Pushed Back’ On Show Creator Mara Brock Akil Over Toxic Storylines: ‘Who Treats Their Friends This Way?’

Tracee Ellis Ross Says ‘Girlfriends’ Cast ‘Pushed Back’ On Show Creator Mara Brock Akil Over Toxic Storylines: ‘Who Treats Their Friends This Way?’

Tracee Ellis Ross is reflecting on the creative differences between the Girlfriends cast and the show’s creator, Mara Brock Akil, over how the characters treated one another.

While revisiting highlights from her career in a recent Self magazine interview, Tracee recalled:

“There was a lot of pushback from us as a cast all the time with Mara, around like, who treats their friends this way?”

She continued: “All four of us were always puzzled because Joan, Toni, Maya, and Lynn treated each other in a way that none of us in our lives had experienced friendship.”

 

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Tracee went on to criticize the toxic dynamics between the characters, noting: “There was a lot of backstabbing. There was a lot of lying. There were a lot of secrets. There was a lot of taking advantage of [each other] in a way that none of us in our lives could liken that to.”

The cast aren’t the only ones who’ve raised concerns. Over the years, the nature of the characters’ friendships has become a recurring topic on social media, with many viewers criticizing the portrayal of Black sisterhood and pointing out the unhealthy dynamics between the women.

Do you agree with Tracee’s take on the Girlfriends storylines?