Shonda Rhimes, Oprah Winfrey emotional reactions to Viola Davis' historic Emmy win

By 
·September 21, 2015

Viola Davis made Emmy history last night when she won the award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.

She delivered a passionate acceptance speech that has been widely covered and celebrated in the media.

“‘In my mind I see a line, and over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.’ That was Harriet Tubman in the 1800s,” Davis said during her acceptance speech. “And let me tell you something, the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here’s to all the writers, the awesome people—Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes​—people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading women, to be black. And to the to the Taraji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies​, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union, thank you for taking us over that line.”

After the award was presented, celebrities and others took to Twitter to share their feelings and to express their excitement, and among those were Shonda Rhimes and Oprah Winfrey.

Shonda Rhimes said, “I love listening to her speak.”

“Wow , WOW! Another proud to spell my name W.O.M.A.N. Moment. Thank you @violadavis ,” Oprah tweeted out.

Then, when Rhimes tweeted, “Speechless,” Oprah thanked Rhimes for her part in the historic win as well, saying, “Couldn’t have happened without you dear Shonda. Thanks for kicking that door open wide enough for @violadavis to soar thru.”

Several of Davis’ Hollywood contemporaries also has intense reactions to her speech.

https://twitter.com/aishatyler/status/645862837449916416

How to Get Away With Murder returns for a second season Thursday at 10/9c on ABC.

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