UITableView dataSource must return a cell from tableView:cellForRowAtIndexPath: Exception

You’re returning friendCell, and it’s very likely nil.

Your code looks fine, so make sure you have your Interface Builder file set up right. In FriendTableViewCell.xib, be sure the File’s Owner is your table view controller and that you correctly set the cell to be an outlet to friendCell (which I assume is a UITableViewCell).