Shonda Rhimes responds to ‘angry black woman’ New York Times piece

“Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes was not flattered by the New York Times’ recent essay on her talents and took to Twitter to express her frustration.

On Thursday, Times TV critic Alessandra Stanley wrote an essay about how the prolific TV creator is breaking the current mold of TV heroines and subverting stereotypes in the process.

Unfortunately, the critic started her essay with the words, “When Shonda Rhimes writes her autobiography, it should be called ‘How to Get Away With Being an Angry Black Woman.’”

Despite Stanley later in the piece writing, “Ms. Rhimes has embraced the trite but persistent caricature of the Angry Black Woman, recast it in her own image and made it enviable,” Rhimes was not amused.

On Twitter on Friday morning, Peter Nowalk, the creator of “How to Get Away With Murder,” the new ABC show executive produced by Rhimes, wrote her asking, “did u know u were ‘an angry black woman’?”

Rhimes responded, “Confused why @nytimes critic doesn’t know identity of CREATOR of show she’s reviewing.”

She followed it up with, “Apparently we can be “angry black women” together, because I didn’t know I was one either! @petenowa #LearnSomethingNewEveryday.”

She continued, “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... 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.”

Stanley defended her piece in an email to the website Talking Points Memo, saying the point of the piece was to praise Rhimes, not to criticize.

But other websites, including Vox and Slate, are now siding with Rhimes in their assessment of the Times piece.

Meanwhile, the series “How to Get Away With Murder” premieres Sept. 25 on ABC.

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