Shonda Rhimes Encourages Women to Brag About Their Successes
Last year, when Shonda Rhimes signed a massive deal with Netflix, she kept quiet about her salary. Not anymore. At Elle magazine’s annual Women in Hollywood dinner, Rhimes received a standing ovation after revealing that she is now the highest-paid showrunner on television.
Shonda Rhimes is an extremely multi-talented individual, as well as the creator of the hit series Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away With Murder. During her speech, she found it necessary to explain why sharing her salary is so important, especially in this day and age. And it has to do with women getting the credit they deserve.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, she explains, “The other day I came to this conclusion that men brag and women hide. Even when they don’t deserve to brag, men brag—[Donald] Trump, [Brett] Kavanaugh—and when men do deserve to brag, they are good at it. They do it so well. Men brag about everything, even things that aren’t things.
A little while ago in an inspiring article, [Grey’s Anatomy actress] Ellen [Pompeo] told the world she was the highest paid women in dramatic television. She did not hide. She bragged. She said she was powerful and she said deserved it, and there was some blowback. There should not have been. I have seen a thousand articles like that from men but she’s a woman and she shouldn’t say things like that…
Ryan Murphy, bless your amazingly talented heart. When Ryan made his amazing deal with Netflix, what did he do? He shouted his salary to the world and he did this gorgeous cover shoot and photo for The Hollywood Reporter and he deserved every minute of it. I applaud him. When I made a deal with Netflix, I let them [report] my salary wrong in the press, and then I did as few interviews as possible and I put my head down and worked. In other words, I hid. I’m getting this award for inspiring other women; how can I inspire anyone if I’m hiding?”
Rhimes earned a massive applause from the audience, and her message holds power. Read her entire speech about empowering women on Elle.
