As “And Just Like That” returns for Season 3 on HBO Max, fans were quick to notice that Sara Ramirez’s Che Diaz is nowhere to be seen.
The non-binary comedian, once Miranda Hobbes’ (Cynthia Nixon) love interest, stirred significant buzz in the reboot’s early seasons — and not always in a good way.
From thinkpieces to memes, Che became one of TV’s most polarizing characters, often criticized as an awkward symbol of the show’s attempts at inclusivity.
Now, series star and executive producer Sarah Jessica Parker is breaking her silence — and says she was surprised by just how unpopular the character turned out to be. Speaking to The Guardian, Parker admitted she had no idea the character was so polarizing.
SJP ‘Shocked’ By All The Hate For ‘Che’
“A friend of mine brought it up to me, and it’s like: ‘What are you talking about?’ And he said: ‘Yeah, there’s all this conversation,’” she said.
“I’ve been an actor for 50 years, and I’ve almost never paid attention to peripheral chatter. I loved working with them.”
SJP Reflects on Carrie as an ‘Antihero’
While she’s surprised by the discourse around Che, Parker is fully embracing the complexity of her character, Carrie Bradshaw, especially as audiences reframe her through a modern lens.
According to Deadline, Parker told The Guardian that she was thrilled to hear Carrie described as an “antihero.”
“I prefer that to any other description of her, because it allows her to be as male as the men have been. I love The Sopranos so much, and I look at all the times [Tony] was unlawful, and we loved him. Carrie has an affair and everybody falls apart.
An antihero, to me, is somebody that’s not behaving in conventional ways, and she hasn’t ever… A lot of people love her too, though!”
What’s Next for “And Just Like That“
“Sex and the City” ran for 94 episodes between 1998 and 2004. “And Just Like That…” picks up years later with the same core characters navigating life in New York, minus Che this time around.
Season three premiered on HBO Max and continues to air on Thursdays through August 14. Che Diaz’s departure marks a shift, but the show still centers on the friendships, fashion, and messy love stories fans have come to expect. You can start streaming the show here.
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Sarah Jessica Parker Praises Former Co-Star Sara Ramirez Amid ‘Che Diaz’ Backlash