Ellen Pompeo and Kerry Washington also defend the TV writer after the New York Times writer wrote, 'Ms. Rhimes has embraced the trite but persistent caricature of the Angry Black Woman' on her shows.
- Sep 20, 2014
AceShowbiz - A New York Times writer called Shonda Rhimes an "angry black woman" and she's not happy about it. Alessandra Stanley wrote in her review of new series "How to Get Away with Murder" from Shondaland, "When Shonda Rhimes writes her autobiography, it should be called 'How to Get Away With Being an Angry Black Woman'."
She continued by pointing out the similarities between the female lead characters on Rhimes' shows, "Ms. Rhimes, who wrought Olivia Pope on 'Scandal' and Dr. Miranda Bailey on 'Grey's Anatomy,' has done more to reset the image of African-American women on television than anyone since Oprah Winfrey."
The TV critic added, "Be it Kerry Washington on 'Scandal' or Chandra Wilson on 'Grey's Anatomy,' they can and do get angry... Ms. Rhimes has embraced the trite but persistent caricature of the Angry Black Woman, recast it in her own image and made it enviable. She has almost single-handedly trampled a taboo even Michelle Obama couldn't break."
In a series of Twitter post, Rhimes fired back at Stanley. "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'?" she wrote, as Stanley mentioned Rhimes as the creator of "How to Get Away with Murder", when the creator is actually Pete Nowalk. She added later, "Apparently we can be 'angry black women' together, because I didn't know I was one either! @petenowa #LearnSomethingNewEveryday."
In other posts, she wrote, "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... Wait. I'm 'angry' AND a ROMANCE WRITER?!! I'm going to need to put down the internet and go dance this one out. Because ish is getting real."
Not only Rhimes who's miffed at the article, but also actors who star on Rhimes' series. "Grey's" star Ellen Pompeo tweeted, "@nytimes you set the world back with a review of a television show based around the RACE of the lead. Is the show good tv or not?"
Kerry Washington of "Scandal" wrote a sarcastic post on her own Twitter, "Dear @nytimeshttps://t.co/20dzCSLKsx AND https://t.co/VJQ7n0Ujdn You're welcome. Love, K-Dub." Her co-star Joshua Malina also weighed in, "Wow. Did I just read a @nytimes piece that reduced my brilliant, creative, compassionate, thoughtful, bada** boss to an 'angry black woman?' "
Responding to the comments from Rhimes, Stanley said in a statement released by the Times, "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."