Shonda Rhimes reveals hiring security after 'Grey's Anatomy' fans 'got mean' over season finales
Grey’s Anatomy’s former showrunner Shonda Rhimes revealed she had to hire security after receiving death threats from fans dissatisfied with season finales.
The producer and screenwriter opened up about her journey with the beloved series in her interview with The Sunday Times, sharing why she decided to step back from interacting with the series’ fans on social media.
“Social media changed. Fans have passionate feelings, and I was always fine with that,” she told the outlet.
“I understand that the characters felt like their friends. They were my imaginary friends too. That’s why I was writing them. And I think people just had very strong feelings about what happened with their friends,” she explained. “But then it became weird.”
Shonda recalled how she needed to request the authorities to have a police car parked outside her house for a week after every season finale release because she was receiving death threats from fans who were dissatisfied with how a certain season ended.
“They got mean,” she continued. “And you never knew who was going to really take offense in the wrong way.”
The screenwriter, who is also a mom of three, eventually hired a private 24-hour security at her house in Los Angeles “because people are dangerous and strange.”
“I wanted to just be able to walk out my front door and hang out with my kids and not be worried. I would lay awake at night with stress,” she lamented.
“I had some very helpful friends who’d had similar experiences, who were able to give me a lot of perspective, and who were adamant that if you can’t live normally then you’re not going to be able to live,” she added.
Apart from Grey’s Anatomy, Shonda is also the maker of hit TV shows How to Get Away from Murder, Scandal, Private Practice, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, and Inventing Anna.
Recently renewed for season 21, Grey's Anatomy is the longest-running primetime medical drama in TV history, per Variety. It's also the longest-running primetime scripted series in the history of ABC.
Among its current cast members are Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens, Jr., Kevin McKidd, Caterina Scorsone, Camilla Luddington, Kelly McCreary, Kim Raver, Jake Borelli, Chris Carmack, Anthony Hill, Alexis Floyd, Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, Midori Francis, and Niko Terho.
Grey's Anatomy is streaming on Disney+.