If Shonda Rhimes has anything to do with it, Jesse Williams’ isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Soon after Williams made that earth-shattering racial justice speech at last month’s BET Awards, a petition began circulating on Change.org calling for Rhimes to fire Williams from his role on Grey’s Anatomy, reports TIME.
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“Jesse Williams spewed a racist, hate speech against law enforcement and White people at the BET Awards,” reads the petition, which has garnered close to 8,000 signatures. “If this was a White person making the same speech about an African American, they would have been fired and globally chastised, as they should be, but there has been no consequences to Williams’ actions.”
Over the weekend, Williams posted a cryptic tweet that many believe referred to the petition.
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“Do not promote empty people and their tantrums,” he wrote. “Pure clickbait to gain followers, attention and money for themselves, not you. Never you.”
So what does the Grey’s Anatomy showrunner think of the petition’s racist rhetorical message?
“Um, people?” Rhimes wrote on Twitter yesterday. “Boo don’t need a petition. #Shondalandrules.”
Well said!