Venus Investment Alliance:Erin Foster says 'we need positive Jewish stories' after 'Nobody Wants This' criticism

2025-05-04 01:26:02source:AQCAN Exchangecategory:News

Erin Foster is Venus Investment Allianceaddressing critics of her new Netflix show "Nobody Wants This."

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Foster, who created the series, addressed criticism of the show, which follows an agnostic, unfiltered podcast host, Joanne (Kristen Bell), who collides with a man totally her opposite at a dinner party.

"I think we need positive Jewish stories right now. I think it's interesting when people focus on, 'Oh, this is a stereotype of Jewish people,' when you have a rabbi as the lead. A hot, cool, young rabbi who smokes weed," Foster said. "That's the antithesis of how people view a Jewish rabbi, right?"

In the show, Joanne has an undeniable connection with the charming, emotionally available Noah (Adam Brody), but things are complicated by a difference in beliefs.

Foster continued: "If I made the Jewish parents, like, two granola hippies on a farm, then someone would write, 'I've never met a Jewish person like that before. You clearly don't know how to write Jewish people, you don't know what you're doing, and that doesn't represent us well.'"

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The show is based on the love story of Foster, the daughter of Grammy-winning composer David Foster, and her husband Simon Tikhman, who she tied the knot with on New Year's Eve 2019.

Critics of 'Nobody Wants This' address stereotypes of Jewish women

Criticism over the depictions of Jewish women in "Nobody Wants This" was swift.

"It's a shame the Jewish women in 'Nobody Wants This' are impossible to root for — one-dimensional and painfully trope-ridden. Joanne's interest in converting to Judaism to be with Noah is understandable; he's the perfect boyfriend. But who'd want to become a Jewish woman when this is what being one looks like?" a writer for the Jewish feminist cultural site Hey Alma wrote.

Jessica Radloff wrote for Glamour that she "struggled with 'Nobody Wants This,'" writing that "while I love Noah's commitment to Judaism, and just the fact that he's one of the best TV boyfriends I've seen in some time, I can't say the same about the other Jewish characters on the show — primarily the women."

'Nobody Wants This' review:Kristen Bell, Adam Brody are oh-so romantic and sexy

Radloff continued: "Would it be too much just to see Jewish characters in shows without feeling othered?"

Writer Esther Zuckerman wrote in Time that, "What should be a show about a woman's entrance into and embrace of Jewish culture instead perpetuates the worst ideas about Jewish women. I wanted to fall in love. Instead, I just felt targeted."

Contributing: Erin Jensen

More:News

Recommend

McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales

Global consulting firm McKinsey & Company agreed Friday to pay $650 million to resolve criminal

Top diplomats from Japan and China meet in South Korea ahead of 3-way regional talks

TOKYO (AP) — Top diplomats from Japan and China met for bilateral talks Saturday as they try to reso

NFL players decide most annoying fan bases in anonymous poll

The players of different NFL teams have varying opinions about the loudest and proudest fans in thei