Girlfriends' Creator Releases Statement on its Cancellation

Mara Brock Akil, creator and executive producer of The CW's "Girlfriend," released a statement today regarding the series' abrupt cancellation this week. Fans were outraged that the eight-year-old series did not have a proper finale episode.





"Although it's always difficult to say goodbye, I choose to focus my energy on the history that Girlfriends has made, the human stories that we told, the beautifully complex images that we projected and the blessings 172 episodes bestowed on us, both personally and professionally," Akil said."I am immensely thankful to the amazingly talented cast, writers, directors, staff and crew for their endless dedication and hard work for eight seasons, to the network that always wanted us and the studio that always supported us, but mostly to the audience, especially African-American women, who took the time to tune into us every Monday night at nine to have a dialogue with us and who have been our partner in this journey. I am currently in talks with the studio and network on putting together a retrospective show which will honor and celebrate this landmark series, so please stay tuned."





Girlfriends, said to be the Black "Sex and the City" was witty, provacative, and one of the few shows willing to portray women of color in a positive light. It will be missed by many and we can only hope that another sitcom will emerge in its place. Reality TV has bared a catastrophic effect on the reputation of the Black female in the eye of the world. "Flavor of Love", "Charm School", and more have gone out of their way to make the Black female archetype hyper-sexualized, abrasive, and crude. In fact there is nothing reality about it. We must thank Girl Friends for telling a story of four women that conveyed realities to which many Black women really do relate.

On a final note, Toni Child's exit was really when the show jumped ship. I loved her character and honestly related to her the most. However, I thought Keesha Sharpe was a wonderful and beautiful actress and she ultimately added to the show, not as a replacemnt of course, in lieu of Toni's exit. I wish her and the entire cast of Girlfriends the best.




( a portion of this blog was provided by http://www.blacktalentnews.com/)