Devil Wears Prada's Friends: Villains or Loyal Allies?

A persistent debate questions whether Andy's boyfriend and friends were the true villains in the 2006 film, The Devil Wears Prada. Actress Tracie Thoms, who portrayed Andy's best friend Lily, shared her perspective on this enduring discourse. She noted that the conversation gained significant traction about a decade after the film's release.

Thoms rewatched the movie with this critical lens and concluded that while societal views on work and friendship have evolved, the friends' reactions were understandable. She pointed out that Andy was also failing as a friend, having missed Nate's birthday for work and not liking her demanding job at Runway magazine.

According to Thoms, characters like Lily were fulfilling their role by calling Andy out when she was changing for the worse. She discussed this with the film's writer, Aline Brosh McKenna, who agreed that the friends' job was to confront Andy about becoming someone she disliked. Thoms finds it notable that critics of the friends often struggle to articulate concrete reasons for their villainization.

The actress has also discussed this topic with co-stars Rich Sommer and Adrian Grenier. Thoms maintains a balanced view, acknowledging both sides of the argument while defending the actions of characters like Lily. She also mentioned that Lily continues to be a supportive friend in the recently released sequel.