Erin Foster is responding to the backlash surrounding her new Netflix series “Nobody Wants This.”

In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, Foster, the show’s creator, discussed the criticism aimed at the series, which is about a candid, agnostic podcast host named Joanne (Kristen Bell) who meets someone who is her polar opposite at a dinner party.

“Right now, we really need more uplifting Jewish stories. I find it intriguing when people say, ‘This portrays Jewish people in stereotypes,’ yet we have a rabbi as the central character—a young, attractive rabbi who smokes weed,” Foster shared. “This is completely unlike the traditional image many have of a Jewish rabbi, isn’t it?”

Throughout the series, Joanne feels a strong connection with the charming and emotionally open Noah (Adam Brody), though their differing beliefs create tension.

Foster further explained: “If I portrayed Jewish parents as two hippies living on a farm, someone would likely comment, ‘I’ve never encountered a Jewish person like that. You’ve completely misrepresented us.'”

The series draws inspiration from Foster’s own love story with her husband Simon Tikhman, whom she married on New Year’s Eve in 2019.

Critics Highlight Stereotypes of Jewish Women in ‘Nobody Wants This’

<p”The remarks on the portrayal of Jewish women in ‘Nobody Wants This’ have been swift and critical.

A contributor for the Jewish feminist cultural site Hey Alma remarked, “It’s disappointing that the Jewish women in ‘Nobody Wants This’ are hard to cheer for—they come off as shallow and filled with stereotypes. While Joanne’s desire to convert to Judaism for Noah is relatable since he’s a great boyfriend, who would want to become a Jewish woman when this is the portrayal available?”

Jessica Radloff expressed in Glamour her struggles with “Nobody Wants This,” stating, “Though I appreciate Noah’s dedication to Judaism, and regard him as a fabulous TV boyfriend, I can’t extend the same praise to the female Jewish characters.”

Radloff added, “Is it too much to hope for Jewish characters in shows that don’t make them feel alienated?”

Writer Esther Zuckerman in Time noted, “What could be an exploration of a woman’s journey into and appreciation of Jewish culture instead feeds into outdated notions about Jewish women. I wanted to be enchanted but instead felt targeted.”