Shonda Rhimes learned two shocking details about herself in The New York Times review of the new ABC show “How to Get Away With Murder.” The first was that she’s “an angry black woman.” The second was that she created the new series, starring Viola Davis, and not the actual creator, Pete Nowalk.
“Confused why @nytimes critic doesn’t know identity of CREATOR of show she’s review. @petenowa did you know u were ‘an angry black woman’?” Rhimes tweeted on Sept. 19.
She continued, “Apparently we can be ‘angry black women’ together, because I didn’t know I was one either! @petenowa #LearnSomethingNewEveryday.”
The review, written by Times’ critic Alessandra Stanley, attempts to praise the strong, black female characters in the shows produced by Rhimes’ production company, Shondaland. In addition to Davis, Kerry Washington leads on “Scandal” and Chandra Wilson plays an important secondary character on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
“Ms. Rhimes has embraced the trite but persistent caricature of the Angry Black Woman, recast it in her own image and made it enviable,” Stanley wrote. “She has almost single-handedly trampled a taboo even Michelle Obama couldn’t break.”
The critic gives examples of Wilson’s “brilliant surgeon who terrorizes interns” and the memorable “Earn me” speech that Washington gave in “Scandal” season two. Stanley described the latter as a “rant,” a word that could easily be attributed to the scathing speeches that white actresses Ellen Pompeo (as Meredith Grey) and Kate Walsh (as Addison Montgomery) have given on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice,” according to Rhimes.
“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,” she tweeted.
Rhimes' real last qualm came with the critic’s description of her as a “romance writer” near the end of the piece after the earlier “angry black woman” critique.
“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,” she tweeted. Her “Grey’s” characters, Meredith and Christina Yang (Sandra Oh), would similarly dance out their troubles on the show.
Shonda Rhimes is the executive producer for “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder.” All three shows will return on Thursday, Sept. 25 starting at 8 p.m. on ABC.
