‘What are we waiting for?' Shonda Rhimes gives passionate speech about diversity in Hollywood at Producers Guild Awards
Her three hit ABC shows star strong black women.
And TV producer Shonda Rhimes, 46, was quick to call out Hollywood on diversity questions at the Producers Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday while accepting the Norman Lear achievement award, according to People magazine.
‘First of all, [writing about] strong women and three dimensional people of color is something Norman was doing 40 something years ago,’ Rhimes said. ‘So how come it has to be done all over again?"
Making a statement: Shonda Rhimes called out Hollywood on diversity questions as she accepted the Norman Lear Achievement Award at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday
Rhimes she wrote diverse characters on her shows Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Grey's Anatomy because she created content she wanted to see and what she knew was normal.
She asked why more examples of strong black women aren't found outside of her programs.
‘What are we waiting for?’ she said. ‘I mean, I know this is a room full of producers, so probably you're waiting for money. Clearly, money.’
Diversity: The 46-year-old has written diverse characters on her shows Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Grey's Anatomy
How to Get Away with Murder's Viola Davis, 50, introduced Rhimes on stage at the awards show, which was held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in the Century City area.
Davis pointed out Rhimes was the first solo female recipient of the award and alluded to the ongoing controversy over the lack of diversity in this year's Oscar nominations.
‘In a year, a month, hell, a week in which everyone is talking about diversity, she is living proof that the curve that many people are behind was drawn by her,’ Davis said.
Making history: Rhimes became the first solo female recipient of the Norman Lear achievement award
Earlier in Rhimes’ speech, she pointed out that setting an example for content creators was not difficult.
‘I have, against no odds, courageously pioneered the art of writing for people of color as if they were human beings,’ she said.
‘See, the thing about all this trailblazing that everyone says I've been doing, it's not like I did things and then the studio or the network gasped with horror and fought me. It was 2004.’
Warm welcome: How to Get Away with Murder's Viola Davis, 50, introduced Rhimes on stage at the awards show
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