Shonda Rhimes Criticizes ABC Family Sitcom ‘Bunheads’ for Lack of Diversity, Should More Showrunners Do the Same?
Shonda Rhimes the creative force behind hit dramas like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal recently got into a little twitter tête-à-tête over ABC Family’s new show ‘Bunheads.’
The show follows a down on her luck dancer who takes a job teaching ballet. Although Rhimes has commended the show for casting women of various sizes, she had a little critique for her ABC compadres: Where are the women of color?
After watching the show, Rhimes tweeted: “Hey @abcfbunheads: really? You couldn’t cast even ONE young dancer of color so I could feel good about my kid watching this show? NOT ONE?”
Rhimes’ shows are known for their diversity and she often casts actors of various ethnicities, so her jab at ‘Bunheads’ seems valid. But some of her followers didn’t feel the same way. After asking Rhimes if she only wanted her children to see actors of color on screen, Rhimes reminded her fans that all she strives for is inclusivity.
“I def don’t feel bad when my kid watches white performers. Not at all what I’m saying,” she explained, adding: “Just pointing out one issue….”
While many have discussed the lack of diversity on network television, Rhimes is in the position to actually do something about it. With her hit drama Scandal Rhimes created a primetime show anchored by a black woman (Kerry Washington). But for every role Rhimes writes and casts for minorities, her colleagues seem to be overlooking them.
So should more people with Rhimes’ stature start speaking out about the lack of diversity on network TV?
You tell us!
Oh shit!!!! If this was by the creator of Gilmore Girls-I AM so gooiiiiing to watch it!!!! There is no black person, I don’t care. I have youtube shows for that1!
+1 You said EVERYTHING I was gonna!
Not only did the show lack diversity, within the first 2 minutes of the pilot they made a point to comment of the lack of attractiveness of one of the showgirl dancers. A second later, we find out that dancer is a black girl (coincidence? Don’t think so). I think these white writers are getting bold in their attitudes against diversitpy casting.
Sad that we’re still fighting this 2012
I didn’t see the pilot, but thank you for that information. Now I don’t feel a need to check for this show at all, and I used to/still do dance.
Btw,
I didn’t watch the pilot expecting to see “diversity” in the cast. I actually don’t have a problem with it being mostly White cast (I loved Gilmore Girls and even though I didn’t know the creators of the shows are one in the same, I can totally see the similarities already)
But that’s why that line was truly offensive to me. They could have followed the format of the show (aka, white characters only) especially in context with such an insensitive comment–
“Half of them aren’t even pretty, Mar over there looks like Muammar Gaddafi”.
I mean, you don’t see any non-White characters that entire episode except for that Black showgirl who gets called a Gaddafi look-a-like?
So unnecessary
I swear people be complaining about the dumbest stuff The story is set in a small town and blacks don’t live everywhere . Every show doesn’t need to have a token black character.
Sigh. You really don’t see the erasure?
Thank you !!!
oh boo freakin hoo
Agreed. After the “Girls” discussions of the lack of diversity on that show I took the stance of…why are we begging and groveling to be included? Why don’t we create our own or make our lack of viewership speak louder than words. And to be honest, the diversity factor is only 1 factor on if I support a show or not. Rhimes show may have the diversity factor but I don’t support her shows because I don’t like most of her characters especially the leading women “except Bailey”. I am all for diversity and seeing more people of color on tv and not in stereotypical roles but all this begging and crying is not helping because than if feels like they only included us as an afterthought.
After testing out 2 ep’s of ‘Girls’ I deemed the show as wack, anyway. And the lack of black characters had nothing to do with that
Tell ‘em how you feel Shonda!!!