While Apple TV+ series' stars and producers had no update on whether Steve Carell will return for Season 2 at the TV press tour, they were grilled on why storylines took pity on his sexually harassing character. “It was important to get inside the head of a gentle, charismatic narcissist,” said Jennifer Aniston. “(It was important) to be at the hand of abuse of power and not actually even know it. We wanted that perspective of that character to be explored.” Producers were also grilled on Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s character and playing into the stereotypes of the victimization of black women. “That character was written as a character, not specified as a person of color,” said director Mimi Leder. “This character represented the fallout of many of these events that happened to women. So we weren’t playing it as a black woman as a victim. I’m sorry you saw it that way.” Reese Witherspoon later revisited the topic, saying: “We have a writing team who try to be very thoughtful about that, about the way that’s dealt with. We really want to deal with those characters with truth and authenticity. I appreciate your thoughts. They’re important, and they matter.”
TOPICS: The Morning Show, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jennifer Aniston, Mimi Leder, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell