The New York Times struck a nerve on Friday (Sept. 20) when writer Alessandra Stanley wrote a piece on Shonda Rhimes, writer and producer of ABC series Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy and How To Get Away With Murder. Referencing Rhimes’ characters with the term “angry black woman,” the article came under fire, yielding a response from Rhimes and a host of her shows’ stars. “When Shonda Rhimes writes her autobiography, it should be called ‘How to Get Away With Being an Angry Black Woman,’ ” the article read. “Ms. Rhimes has embraced the trite but persistent caricature of the Angry Black Woman, recast it in her own image and made it enviable.” And in a surprise to no one (maybe except Stanley), Rhimes was not pleased with the statements made in the Times’ piece. She took to Twitter in response to Stanley, also correcting the writer, who calls her the creator of How To Get Away With Murder:
Confused why @nytimes critic doesn’t know identity of CREATOR of show she’s reviewing. @petenowa did u know u were “an angry black woman”?
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) September 19, 2014
Apparently we can be “angry black women” together, because I didn’t know I was one either! @petenowa #LearnSomethingNewEveryday
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) September 19, 2014
Rhimes also made a point to ask Stanley why she had not referenced her white female characters, namely Meredith Grey and Addison Montgomery of Grey’s Anatomy. Ellen Pompeo (who stars as Grey) also chimed in, in Rhimes’ defense:
Final thing: (then I am gonna do some yoga): how come I am not “an angry black woman” the many times Meredith (or Addison!) rants? @nytimes
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) September 19, 2014
@shondarhimes @nytimes didn’t Meredith Grey (Medusa) and Christina Yang also terrify and intimidate medical students?
— Ellen Pompeo (@EllenPompeo) September 19, 2014
Kerry Washington also took to Twitter in support of Rhimes, sharing two articles in response to Stanley’s “angry black woman” claims. Her Scandal co-star Joshua Malina also tweeted in disbelief:
Dear @nytimes
AND
You’re welcome.
Love,
K-Dub
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) September 19, 2014
Wow. Did I just read a @nytimes piece that reduced my brilliant, creative, compassionate, thoughtful, badass boss to an “angry black woman?”
— Joshua Malina (@JoshMalina) September 19, 2014