Shonda Rhimes blasted a viewer who complained over Twitter that there are too many gay scenes on her ABC shows “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder.”
It started on Sunday when a viewer tweeted to Rhimes, “the gay scenes in scandal and how to get away with murder are too much. There is no point and they add nothing to the plot.”
To which, the writer and producer responded, “There are no GAY scenes. There are scenes with people in them.”
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“If you are suddenly discovering that Shondaland shows have scenes involving people who are gay, you are LATE TO THE PARTY,” she tweeted next.
But, Rhimes wasn’t finished yet. “If u use the phrase ‘gay scenes,’ u are not only LATE to the party but also NOT INVITED to the party. Bye Felicia. #oneLOVE,” she wrote.
The viewers’ comments arrive as two pretty racy gay story lines are unfolding on both shows. On “Scandal,” White House chief of staff Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry) has been carrying on an affair with a male prostitute played by Matthew Del Negro. And on “How to Get Away With Murder,” law student Connor (Jack Falahee) has had sex with multiple men to procure evidence for cases.
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Rhimes has not only been a longtime advocate for the equal rights of gay people, but has written several gay roles into her Shondaland-produced shows, including “Grey’s Anatomy” in addition to “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder.”
Rhimes ended her response to the viewer’s complaint with a couple statements about accepting one another.
“I love all you Tweeples,” she wrote. “Even the ones who still need to grow. And remember that at some point, someone discriminated against you too.”
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Rhimes added, “I don’t know why this kind of hate is out there. Ugh. #onelove. At least in Shondaland.”
See the tweets below:
https://twitter.com/Dabdelhakiem/status/523914894119567360
. @Dabdelhakiem There are no GAY scenes. There are scenes with people in them.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) October 19, 2014
@Dabdelhakiem If you are suddenly discovering that Shondaland shows have scenes involving people who are gay, you are LATE TO THE PARTY.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) October 19, 2014
. @Dabdelhakiem If u use the phrase "gay scenes", u are not only LATE to the party but also NOT INVITED to the party. Bye Felicia. #oneLOVE
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) October 19, 2014
I love all you Tweeples. Even the ones who still need to grow. And remember that at some point, someone discriminated against you too.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) October 19, 2014
I don't know why this kind of hate is out there. Ugh. #onelove. At least in Shondaland. Have a great rest of your weekend!
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) October 19, 2014
