Tracee Ellis Ross Recalls Systematic Exclusion During Girlfriends Era

Ross noted that while the show maintained a loyal audience between 2000 and 2008, it was routinely bypassed by major networks in favor of white-led programs with smaller viewership, such as Monk. Despite the show’s eventual status as a classic, she recalled a total absence of invitations to platforms like The Tonight Show or David Letterman. For Ross, the disparity was impossible to ignore, leaving her to question the underlying motives of industry gatekeepers who ignored the series entirely.

Efforts to revive the franchise face separate hurdles. Series creator Mara Brock Akil has expressed a strong desire to produce a feature film, yet the project remains stalled by financial limitations. Akil is currently seeking a $50 million budget to reunite the original cast, though securing the necessary backing has proven difficult. Despite these historical and professional challenges, Ross has since established a successful career, recently navigating public scrutiny regarding her personal life and recovering from a high-profile burglary at her Los Angeles home in 2025.