Shonda Rhimes talks ‘Angry Black Woman’

article, says 'there are no (Katherine) Heigls' on 'Scandal' set

Shonda Rhimes has been named "TV's Savior."

The genius behind ABC's "Thank God It's Thursday" lineup sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for its Oct. 17 issue and opened up about her success and the good things that came out of the controversy surrounding the recent New York Times article in which she was called an "angry black woman."

"Some really amazing articles were written that had the conversation that I've been trying to have for a very long time, which, coming from me, makes me sound like I'm just, 'Rrrraw!'" she told the mag.

"In this world in which we all feel we're so full of gender equality and we're a postracial [society] and Obama is president, it's a very good reminder to see the casual racial bias and odd misogyny from a woman written in a paper that we all think of as being so liberal."

 

The writer of the piece, TV critic Alessandra Stanley, told Buzzfeed post-backlash that "the whole point of the piece — once you read past the first 140 characters — is to praise Shonda Rhimes for pushing back so successfully on a tiresome but insidious stereotype."

Rhimes, 44,  goes on to discuss the huge fan base of one of her mega-hits, "Scandal," starring Kerry Washington.

"It's not for nothing that I have a show that's about a professional crisis manager," she said of fan favorite Olivia Pope.

"I learned a lot of stuff," she said, referring to some of her own on-set scandals on long-running series "Grey's Anatomy," including actor Isaiah Washington's dismissal after launching homophobic slurs at co-star T.R Knight.

Cast member Katherine Heigl, who played Dr. Izzie Stevens, also stirred up the drama when she removed her name from Emmy consideration in 2008 because she felt she was not "given the material to warrant a nomination."

Rhimes says when it comes to "Scandal,"  the cast is “tight-knit” and "there are no Heigls in this situation." She added, "I don't put up with bullshit or nasty people. I don't have time for it."

Rhimes did admit she has reached out to other networks aside from ABC, which is home to the not one but three of her shows including newcomer "How To Get Away With Murder," starring Viola Davis.

"It wasn't really about money, though, don't get me wrong, it's very important in a world in which women are paid 77 cents on the dollar to be paid in a way that felt correct," Rhimes said.

"I wanted more control. I wanted the autonomy. And I wanted to feel like if I was making shows, I could sell them anywhere," she said.

"I'm in a lovely position that whenever we pitch something, ABC buys it, which is great, but I also wanted the ability to say, 'This is not for you.'"