Shonda Rhimes Slams “Ignorant” Article On Ethnic Castings

Published on March 25, 2015.

Broadimage / Rex Features

Shonda Rhimes, 45, is one of the most respected people in the media industry right now after creating “Shondaland” as the executive producer of many of TV’s biggest hits including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away With Murder.

She has used her powerful position to make important statements about several of today’s hot button issues including race, equality and sexual orientation both by speaking personally and through representations in her shows.

On Tuesday March 24 she used social media to let one publication know that their article was completely unacceptable after Deadline posted a lengthy editorial earlier that day titled, “Pilots 2015: The Year of Ethnic Castings — About Time or Too Much of Good Thing?”

Although she didn’t mention the article directly, it is clear what she was talking about when she expressed her rage on Twitter after the article ignited huge social media backlash. “1st Reaction:: HELL NO. Lemme take off my earrings, somebody hold my purse! 2nd Reaction: Article is so ignorant I can’t even be bothered,” she wrote on her Twitter as well as retweeting several other similar reactions to the article.

In the article by Nellie Andreeva, she writes, “Instead of opening the field for actors of any race to compete for any role in a color-blind manner, there has been a significant number of parts designed as ethnic this year, making them off-limits for Caucasian actors, some agents signal. Many pilot characters this year were listed as open to all ehtnicities, but when reps would call to inquire about an actor submission, they frequently have been told that only non-Caucasian actors would be considered.”

Several other people, including celebrities have responded in anger to the article although there has been no comment from the author or Deadline and the article has remained in its entirety on the site.

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