Sarah Jessica Parker Responds to Fans' Disapproval of 'And Just Like That' Character Che

Sarah Jessica Parker admitted she was surprised to learn that fans didn’t like And Just Like That… character Che Diaz, played by Sara Ramirez.

While speaking to The Guardian on June 6, Sarah, 60, said she had no idea that so many fans didn’t like the controversial nonbinary character until a friend brought it up to her.

“A friend of mine brought it up to me, and it’s like: ‘What are you talking about?’” she recalled. “And he said: ‘Yeah, there’s all this conversation.’ I’ve been an actor for 50 years, and I’ve almost never paid attention to peripheral chatter.”

Sarah added that she “loved working with” Sara, 49, who is also nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.

It was revealed in February 2024 that Sara would not return as standup comic Che after appearing on And Just Like That… for the first two seasons. Shortly after the show’s debut in 2021, Che quickly became a meme and the butt of the joke among many viewers.

The Grey’s Anatomy alum reflected on the backlash while speaking to Variety in June 2022. “Other people’s opinions of a character — that’s not something I can allow into my process,” they said. “I choose what I receive, right? That’s the beauty of being grown — I don’t have to receive everything!”

Che was romantically involved with original Sex and the City character Miranda Hobbs (Cynthia Nixon), while they also worked on a podcast with Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker).

In addition to discussing the backlash surrounding Che, Sarah also reflected on Sex and the City’s popularity among Gen Z.

“It’s curious, because their lives are so different – the language they use around dating is different,” she told The Guardian about the younger generation. “They’re less patient. They’re more punitive. They’re not as forgiving of people’s shortcomings. I’m not condemning it, it’s just what I’ve heard. So it’s really interesting that they feel so spirited about it.”

Sarah Jessica Parker

One topic that the younger viewers have strong opinions on is Carrie’s relationship with Mr. Big (Chris Noth). The couple dated on and off throughout the original series, and they faced several obstacles before they wed during the first Sex and the City movie in 2008. Big eventually died during the season premiere of And Just Like That… The relationship has faced backlash, with many viewers believing that they didn’t have a healthy dynamic.

“It doesn’t mean they aren’t objecting to Big and Carrie’s relationship, or the way he treated her, or choices Carrie made,” Sarah continued about the younger fans’ views of the show. “But people had those strong feelings back then, too.”

When asked if she was disappointed by any of the original show’s plot lines, Sarah admitted that viewers could sometimes be “disheartened” by seeing what the characters went through.

“But the show is also about finding home and contentment, whatever home means to you,” she continued. “I feel that 20- and 30-year-olds should be searching. There should be something in the distance that’s important and exciting, and worth the wait. Part of it is rather dreary that great women of all ages are still incredibly frustrated by the dating scene, but I also see a lot of happy endings.”