Shonda Rhimes and Ava DuVernay blast writer for saying TV is too 'ethnic' this year

theGRIO REPORT - Shonda Rhimes and Ava DuVernay are blasting a writer for claiming TV has become 'too ethnic'...

Mar 25, 2015

Tuesday night, Deadline.com set the internet ablaze with an article stating that network TV has become too diverse.

TV writer Nellie Andreeva penned the article“Pilots 2015: The Year Of Ethnic Castings – About Time Or Too Much Of Good Thing?” which was supposed to be her clever take on the growing trend of minority casting.

Amdreeva claims that success of new series, including How To Get Away With Murder, Black-ish, Fresh Off The Boat, Jane the Virgin and Empire, will open doors for even more “ethnic castings” this year.

“The pendulum might have swung a bit too far in the opposite direction,” she writes. “Instead of opening the field for actors of any race to compete for any role in a color-blind manner, there has been a significant number of parts designated as ethnic this year.”

“Because of the sudden flood of roles for ethnic actors after years of suppressed opportunities for them, the talent pool of experienced minority performers — especially in the younger range — is pretty limited,” Andreeva added. “That has led to a feeding frenzy, with a number of straight offers locking in ethnic talent before they could be snatched by another pilot. Replacing one set of rigid rules with another by imposing a quota of ethnic talent on each show might not be the answer.”

Needless to say, the response on social media to Andreeva’s article was fast and furious, with many outraged by her poorly articulated essay about a breakout era in TV.

“1st Reaction:: HELL NO. Lemme take off my earrings, somebody hold my purse! 2nd Reaction: Article is so ignorant I can’t even be bothered,” Shonda Rhimes wrote on Twitter.

1st Reaction:: HELL NO. Lemme take off my earrings, somebody hold my purse! 2nd Reaction: Article is so ignorant I can't even be bothered.

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) March 25, 2015

Selma Director Ava DuVernay echoed Rhimes’ sentiments.

RT @shondarhimes: 1st Reaction: HELL NO. Lemme take off my earrings! 2nd Reaction: Article is so ignorant I can't even be bothered. (PREACH)

— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) March 25, 2015