Ive always had the end point in mind.. Roman Polanski, 89, and Samantha Geimer, 60, were seen beaming in a recent photo taken in Paris - 45 years after he raped her. I was really impressed with the boldness of it; Shonda never fails to amaze me with her fierceness. What if I had been, say, 16 years old, and seen Olivia going alone, confidently, to her appointment no looping in her boyfriend, no implication that the thing happening inside her body is anyones business but her own. How much of their breakup do you think was based on Olivia's stress from the pregnancy and feeling cornered as she said, not running with the big dogs? All Rights Reserved. Olivia's abortion on Scandal shocks the world in a good way Goldwyn previously told THRthat Fitz would have a progressive view on the matter. We were all shocked, honestly, at how dark the writers went. I don't have an attachment to what it looks like. What would have happened if Olivia had said to Fitz, "I'm pregnant?" And those expectations were pretty firmly established by what Id been taught to believe about abortion from Hollywood. 2023 deaths in the United States - Wikipedia And the pressures are intense and to not have anybody that you can share your confidence with, who you know has your back and frankly who understands your frailties, that's a tough place to live in. So guess whos waiting in the ladies room to give Mellie a surprise pep talk? Olivia calls Fitz an ineffectual president and believes the White House is a cage. His face would have lit up in a smile and it would be the greatest joy in his life and he'd have embraced her and said, "Oh my God, we're going to start a whole new life together, isn't that fantastic?!" Well done, Shonda Rhimes! Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. She recently told a French magazine that the rape 'wasn't a big deal.' The biggest? I may be alone at this point in thinking that, I dont know (Laughs.) Todays biggest stories, from pop culture to politicsdelivered straight to your inbox. Id say 90 percent. I was really impressed with the boldness of it; Shonda never fails to amaze me with her fierceness. Will 'Scandal' Season 6 Introduce A Pregnancy Storyline For Olivia? Will Olivia tell Fitz about the abortion? 'Scandal's' Tony Goldwyn on Abortion Storyline, Fitz and Olivia's Future. Olivia knew the choice that she wanted to make and I have a feeling she has no regrets about the actions that she took. And of course she's withholding this terrible secret that Fitz has no clue about. She looks happy or freed with a glass of wine, new couch and a Christmas tree, while Fitz is left almost heartbroken. Adding fuel to the fire that Olivia and Fitz really weren't truly ready to be together in such a high-pressure fashion was the fact that Olivia was pregnant and opted to have an abortion unbeknownst to Fitz. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Before I did, I did a few other things: I talked to my boyfriend; I spent a week locked up in my apartment, going through the should we or shouldnt we motions of deciding what to do with my boyfriend, who wanted me to have the baby, and I pretended like I didnt already know that I wanted an abortion the second I found out I was pregnant. When I finally made the appointment and had the procedure (my boyfriend was upset and didnt come with me; my sister did), I spent weeks feeling sad and like my life was falling apart, which it almost did but it didnt need to. I think there's hope. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. pondered Rhimes. Adding fuel to the fire that Olivia and Fitz really werent truly ready to be together in such a high-pressure fashion was the fact that Olivia was pregnant and opted to have an abortion unbeknownst to Fitz. Her father has been saying that, and while he represents evil to a lot of you, he also represents truth., RELATED: The Most Shocking Twists on Scandal, What their future may hold, in other words, is up in the air as is the future of Scandal, as Rhimes reiterated her plans to keepthe political fixer drama as a contained story. I cant tell you that, Rhimes told EW ahead of the panel. Someone having an abortion experience that feels honest and representative of my abortion experience, thats exactly how I felt. First Republic Bank's fate in limbo as US regulators consider bids An all-new episode of Scandal will air this Thursday night on ABC following Grey's Anatomy. The idea that they were together under the circumstances in which they were together that she was going to move into the White House and become Mellie [Bellamy Young], who was the unhappiest woman weve ever seen was a farce, Rhimes continued. Jerry Springer hinted at his ailing health in his last-ever Australian TV interview before dying from pancreatic cancer at the age of 79 last Thursday. As Liv chugs the moonshine (as a Southerner, I call LIES on how hard she put that sh*t away) and fights with her pissed-off boyfriend about some fancy dinner she skipped while off getting her abortion, we can clearly see that shes not in a great place. The veteran series also features Addision (Kate Walsh) revealing that she had an abortion after getting pregnant during her affair with Mark (Eric Dane). 2 days ago, by Joely Chilcott By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR. Whats more, it may have revealed Fitzs stance on abortion for the first time in five years. The now-former couple agrees that they rushed into things and weren't ready ("we tried," they say) and that they were "broken" going into this. Thats what I thought was normal. That shed surrender herself to be a prisoner of the White House and be an appendage of him, that was never going to work. Olivias been on a journey since we started. I tried this thing, and it doesnt feel right, so Im out. It was her getting out, so she could move on, and try to find something else that might actually make her as happy as she knows she deserves to be. FATHER KNOWS BEST | Still shackled to a chair, an increasingly desperate Rowan decides to play mind games with his captor/potential executioner, Huck. Thats what youve seen. Hes a Republican but weve never asked that question [on the show]. Olitz. I think it would be, next to the death of his son, the most gutting news he could get and frankly I don't know how he'd recover from that. Heres the thing about how I handled my abortion: I was playing a part, even if I didnt realize I was. She later figures out that the goal is to start a war between the U.S. and West-Angola by kidnapping Olivia and force Fitz to declare a war. "I literally ask the question because a woman made a choice about her body. Thats what I knew to do. Do we need to know that a woman is scarred and traumatized and genuinely f*cking upset about her abortion in order for us the faceless, judging public to not hate her for it (and we still might anyway)? So when I got pregnant, I did all of those things telling my boyfriend, considering what he wanted, breaking my own heart, letting myself take the blame for breaking his; letting my life fall apart a bit afterward because those were the lines on the page. by Ariel Baker But there's going to be a tremendous backlash I'm not saying this out of any knowledge of the story, but about life when Olivia has to look in the mirror and realizes that she's pushed away everybody who is close to her life and the man she does love. It just means that Olivia does not know who she is yet. Fitz may grow through the experience; I have no idea what Shonda has in mind. But that's not all we learned. She looks happy or freed with a glass of wine, new couch and a Christmas tree, while Fitz is left almost heartbroken. The answer is YES, in capital letters. But emotionally, we were all silent afterward; like, "What just happened?!". But I think thats what makes it worth talking about. At the midway point of the ABC drama's fall finale on Thursday, Olivia was escorted into a private medical room and then underwent an apparent abortion. One minute, Mellie was kicking some serious butt in a congressional hearing as she conducted her filibuster to save Planned Parenthood, and the next, Olivia was lying on an operating table, and the procedure had begun. Meanwhile, Fitz finds out that Olivia aborted his baby. Its interesting to me that her primary story is a romance. Its honestly strange and annoying that TV and movies dont showcase more instances where women are not just ending up without a baby or a man in a sad context, but are choosing to not have a baby, or to not have a man, in the decidedly positive context of her creating the life she wants for herself. In possibly related news, a familiar face returns during Thursdays episode, which screened ahead of the panel, that will surely raise some eyebrows. I can't imagine how Fitz will react when he finds out about the abortion. It's interesting to me that it's a romance, that her primary story is a romancethat's what you've seen. However it looks like, if it brings sheer joy and peace, I'm in.". "My question is . He's a Republican but we've never asked that question [on the show]. The 1-minute scene was so flawlessly orchestrated in a way that both refused to strip Olivia of her strength, while also not softening the utterly unpleasant reality of the actual experience of undergoing that procedure. I cant tell you that, Rhimes told EW ahead of the panel. Hes very progressive in so many ways and my guess is that Fitz would have a fairly progressive view on the matter, if only to say that it should not be in the hands of the government. Perhaps that Rhimes and co-producer Betsy Beers knows when and where the show will end. Which isnt to say that I was faking anything I wasnt but the entire way I handled my pregnancy and abortion, both internally and externally, was heavily influenced by pre-existing expectations. And the truth is, neither do most women when they have abortions. If you think the debates youve seen in the real world are fun star Kerry Washington teased coyly. So he inappropriately rushed things by moving her into the White House when they just needed time. But theres going to be a tremendous backlash Im not saying this out of any knowledge of the story, but about life when Olivia has to look in the mirror and realizes that shes pushed away everybody who is close to her life and the man she does love. Really?! For Olivia the character, it only highlighted her bravery. I think everything would lead us to believe that Fitz would be ethically pro-life, even if he has a progressive bend like George Bush Sr. But the bigger thing is not a political question; the bigger thing here is the emotional [impact]. The last question of the night was perhaps the most fitting, given that Paleyfest is for the fans. Here's everything that happened: Huck's Family Drama: The audience previewed Thursday night's episode, in which Huck must deal with the emotional fallout of not being in his son's life. I think he would have to because hes in love with her. And of course shes withholding this terrible secret that Fitz has no clue about. What was the table read like when the cast got this script? So he inappropriately rushed things by moving her into the White House when they just needed time. But that's not to say that it would ruin any chance of Olitz getting back together, at least not in this actor's eyes. "Olivia is on a journey," Rhimes started out. Unfortunately, their relationship could not stand the public pressure, eventually leading to Olivias shocking holiday plans: getting an abortion and moving out of the White House. The answer is YES, in capital letters. There's been a lot of darkness of Huck, but he's trying to be a better person." And then, to boot, marching home, telling her boyfriend that she wasnt happy in their relationship, and didnt think they were headed towards a future that filled her needs, before then going home to her apartment, by herself not falling apart. [WATCH] 'Scandal' Season 5 Midseason Premiere: Olivia Makes - Variety Shondaland, the Theme Park? And it really, really matters whether or not we have these depictions because its inescapable that young people are influenced by them, and its inescapable for their feelings and choices about their own lives will be swayed by these preconceptions. 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"It's because of who Olivia is in the brains of these writers. 'First Republic has lots of knowledge about its customers and has been a profitable bank for its entire history - but its business model is not stable. Greys Anatomy explored the subject when Sandra Ohs Cristina Yang has an abortion in season eight because she and then-husband, Owen (Kevin McKidd), did not agree on having children. Olivia later goes to Fitz to bless Jake (Scott Foley) as Mellies pick for vice president on her Republican ticket. "He got beyond the fact that her father was responsible for murdering his son," Goldwyn explained. But his feelings for Olivia defy logic. Olivia' abortion only got one minute of airtime, filibustering in opposition of a Congressional budget. Brief and devoid of dialogue as it was, Scandals presentation of Olivias abortion was my favorite of any Ive seen in TV or movies. But then a weird and telling and amazing thing happens: She never mentions the abortion. and part two is the colossal lie and betrayal and withholding of that terrible truth that Olivia didn't tell . Scandal - "Dead in the Water" Subscribe: http://goo.gl/mo7HqT That doesn't mean she doesn't love Fitz, but it means Olivia does not know who she is yet. And maybe they're right. Its a quiet and unremarkable appointment that we go to, and we take care of our bodies, and then we go do whatever else we have to do, and we go home feeling better about the things weve gained from making empowered choices about our lives, far more than we feel upset about the loss of the things we didnt choose. Having an abortion doesnt look beautiful; breaking up doesnt look beautiful but theres a difference between pulling things apart because it wasnt built correctly, and things falling apart. My only responsibility is for the story. What ever Fitz has done wrong, what ever mistakes Fitz made or overreaching he did, they could have made a go of this. During the episode, Olivia already being accepted as the first lady-to-be is growing tired of being left out of the "big dog" club and instead is left to deliver cookies to a senator's wife as she has almost devolved to become the president's arm candy. Of course, this storyline instantly became a source of controversy among viewers, which is to be expected when such an important and highly sensitive topic is addressed. That does not mean she does not love Fitz, and it does not mean that Fitz is not worthy of love. 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It's brutal and it ends with Olivia boldly declaring that "there is no us; no this; no Vermont; no jam; no future. To be clear about "falling apart," Olivia didn't. She did not break up with Fitz because she was f*cked up in the head about her abortion. I can only assume he would because of his irrational love for Olivia. He cannot reject her no matter what. Hit the comments! She feels that Fitz moving her into the White House so suddenly (and without asking) was punishment for releasing Rowan. I don't think of it as a product of what's being put out there. America So She Could Breastfeed Privately, Michael J. When I was 20, I had an abortion. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. This isnt what I want. Jerry Springer's last interview: What he would tell God on 'judgement But give me a break! 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It was her decision and hers alone, so Rhimes may not feel it necessary to drudge the whole thing up again. To restate the headline, this time without a spoiler redaction: R.I.P. That was followed . Shonda sometimes dives into political issues because they are raw expressions of the human dilemma that we all live with everyday. Fitz Asks Olivia To Forgive Abby - Scandal 6x09 - YouTube Fitz may have been replaced by a couch (Laughs.) Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. He's very progressive in so many ways and my guess is that Fitz would have a fairly progressive view on the matter, if only to say that it should not be in the hands of the government. Olivia calls Fitz an ineffectual president and believes the White House is a cage. He has always had a strong polarity in his life. She didn't even confirm she'd had an abortion or tell Fitz about . Watching it tugged at some visceral memory of my own abortion; My body remembered what it felt like to be lying there, the feeling of the doctor's hands on me, and the grip of my own around the edges of the table. It was not what I expected with Olivia and Fitz. This episode was such a timely and important one for Planned Parenthood, and it isnt the first time a Shonda Rhimes series or Scandal itself has featured an abortion. Shes progressive politically but she really does these things because theyre important to talk about. In truth, executive producer Shonda Rhimes has not made a decision whether Fitz will discover the truth. She feels that Fitz moving her into the White House so suddenly (and without asking) was punishment for releasing . But he did so kind of from the right place; he was trying to take control of the situation. It is a giant 180 for the man. But he is willing to sacrifice anything for her happiness. Olivia calls Fitz an ineffectual president and believes the White House is a cage. If Fitz were smart, he'd stay 100 miles away from her; he should get in another relationship because, really, how much abuse can two people take? ! She couldnt have that conversation because to her, thats terror and a ball and chain. Olivia believes Fitz is talking about Jake, but the president is talking about a womans right to choose. I can do what ever I want! Fitz may have been replaced by a couch (Laughs.) Because make no mistake, Fitz would not take this news well. And we don't in fact know where Fitz lives on this issue.