The character of Charlie was created in part to counter criticism the "Friends" production staff had received for featuring too few characters played by ethnic minority actors. Aisha Tyler was only the second major supporting character to be portrayed by a black actress, following Gabrielle Union's appearance as Kristen Lang in "The One with the Cheap Wedding Dress" (airdate March 15, 2001; Season 7, No. 17). The role was not specifically written for a black actor. Tyler told the "St Petersburg Times", "I hope frustration over [the lack of diversity is tempered by the fact that when they wrote this role, they didn't wimp out. They wrote her so smart and sexy and elevated, she wasn't just the black girl on "Friends"."