Tracee Ellis Ross is pulling back the curtain on the sharp disparities of early-2000s television culture.
Decades after taking center stage on television, the 53-year-old actress is opening up about the stark lack of mainstream industry recognition she faced during her star-making run on the hit sitcom “Girlfriends.”
Ross was a huge part of the show’s iconic eight-year run, after which she has appeared in other major projects, including “Black-ish.”
Appearing on the most recent episode of Trevor Noah’s “What Now?” podcast, Ross candidly discussed how television culture was “very segregated” while “Girlfriends” was airing between 2000 and 2008.
Although the beloved sitcom has earned widespread recognition and classic status in hindsight, Ross highlighted that major television institutions turned a blind eye to the show throughout its eight-season tenure.
She recalled being completely shut out of major late-night television platforms and prestigious industry awards shows.
“I remember thinking, ‘What?’ Like, what else do you have to get? I don’t know,” Ross reflected, noting that during the show’s entire eight-year run, she received “no talk shows, no Tonight Show, no David Letterman, no Emmys.”
The snub became even more glaring when Ross noticed that critically acclaimed white-led shows, such as “Monk,” which had smaller audiences, were routinely prioritized for late-night guest slots.
She concluded by noting that she didn’t know what else to boil it down to except discrimination. In her words:
“And I was like, ‘I don’t understand. Is it viewership?’ And the only thing you can boil it down to, you’re like, ‘Is it just racism?’ I’m not sure how to — how do you categorize it? I don’t know what it is.”
Mara Brock Would Like To See A ‘Girlfriends’ Movie Idea Brought To Life
While conversations about the historical oversight of “Girlfriends” continue, interest in reviving the iconic franchise remains exceptionally high.
However, series creator Mara Brock Akil recently revealed that bringing the core cast back together for a return faces significant financial challenges.
In early July, the 56-year-old got candid about her efforts to bring a “Girlfriends” feature film to life. While Akil and the original core cast, including Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White, Golden Brooks, and Reggie Hayes, are eager to reunite, securing the necessary backing has been challenging.
“I think I have a story that I would love to do in a film, and I have been trying to get it made,” she said, per People Magazine.
Akil disclosed that she is actively seeking a $50 million budget to deliver the cinematic continuation the series and its fans deserve. However, if the funding fails to materialize, she still has confidence in her ability to create fresh stories while remaining open to future possibilities for the group.
Tracee Ellis Ross Previously Opened Up About Issues With Her Body Image
While efforts to bring the “Girlfriends” cast back together are yet to materialize, Ross has continued to succeed in other Hollywood endeavors.
However, despite her massive success, she has had some issues with her personal image in the past, which she has been open about. In a 2022 discussion, she reflected candidly on learning to feel comfortable in her own skin after decades of self-doubt.
Looking back at her younger years, Ross admitted that feeling truly at ease within herself once felt almost out of reach.
“I actually feel comfortable in my skin now. If you had told me that was going to happen, I don’t know that I would’ve believed you,” she said, as reported by The Blast.
Tracee Ellis Ross Firmly Denied The Pregnancy Rumors
As Ross has grown in confidence, she has also learned to navigate rumors about her personal life.
In late June, she returned to “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where she set the record straight about viral speculation that she was expecting her first child.
“I am not pregnant. I am not,” Ross clarified, per Entertainment Weekly. Finding the humor in the rumors, the Golden Globe winner offered a witty commentary, noting that she doesn’t know “how you get the preggers.”
She also joked that the rumors only came about because the media was having a slow news day.
Tracee Ellis Ross’ Home Was Broken Into Last Year
Ross’ efforts to clear the air on the pregnancy rumors came months after her L.A. home was broken into.
According to The Blast, she fell victim to a costly burglary after intruders targeted her Southern California residence while she was away.
The incident occurred early in the morning on Sunday, August 31, 2025, when three masked suspects forced entry into the property and fled with an estimated $100,000 worth of luxury jewelry and designer handbags.
Fortunately, she was out of town at the time and was not harmed. While the surveillance cameras captured footage of the three suspects moving through the residence, no arrests were made.
