Although “Friends” is regarded as one of the most cherished sitcoms ever, actor Stephen Park, who featured in Season 2’s episode “The One With the Chicken Pox” and Season 3’s “The One With the Ultimate Fighting Champion,” does not recall his experience on the show with warmth.
“At that moment, I thought it was somewhat of a harmful atmosphere,” Park remarked in a recent episode of the “Pod Meets World” podcast. “James Hong was the actor who appeared in the episode alongside me, and [the assistant director] was summoning him to the set, essentially saying, ‘Where the hell is the Asian guy?’” “Retrieve the Asian man.”
He went on, “This isn’t the first time this occurred, you’re aware, but this is the atmosphere where this is standard practice in Hollywood back in 1997, I suppose it was. And no one saw the necessity to address this or mention anything regarding it. “This is typical behavior.”
Park mentioned that he attempted to reach out to the Screen Actors Guild regarding the situation, and the representative he communicated with “suggested I write an article for the L.A. Times.” Park created a “mission statement” and forwarded it to the publication. They ultimately dispatched “a few reporters” to conduct an interview with him, yet Park noted it was never released.
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Park ultimately shared his statement with all those on his “email list” as an open letter (accessible through internet archives). The actor from “Mickey 17” stated that when it was released, the letter “went viral before ‘viral’ was a term.”
“I had become extremely aware of race and so filled with anger that I viewed everything through a racial perspective,” Park stated. “I sensed there was a lack of freedom.” I experienced no sense of freedom. I had no clue what my next steps would be, but I simply chose to leave. I informed everyone, ‘I’m done with acting.’”
Park ultimately made a return to acting following a “gradual ascent back into the industry.” In the years after his role in “Friends,” Park featured in “Boy Meets World,” “Law & Order,” “The Venture Bros.” and “Mad About You.”
