Kerry Washington and ‘Scandal’ Cast Reunite in Michigan for Reproductive Rights

Kerry Washington and ‘Scandal’ Cast Reunite in Michigan for Reproductive Rights

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed the evolution of television over the years, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and admiration when I see the Scandal cast rallying together for such a significant cause. Having grown up watching Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) navigate the political landscape of Washington D.C., it’s heartening to see her taking a stand in real life, especially on an issue as crucial as reproductive rights.


On Sunday, the cast members from “Scandal” took a stand for reproductive rights, and they documented their Michigan reunion with an intense burst of activity across various social media platforms.

Kerry Washington, known for her role as Olivia Pope in Shonda Rhimes’ popular ABC political drama series set in Washington D.C., reunited with her former co-stars Tony Goldwyn, Guillermo Díaz, Bellamy Young, Katie Lowes, Dan Bucatinsky, Scott Foley, Portia de Rossi, George Newbern, Jeff Perry, and Cornelius Smith Jr. This reunion took place five years after the show ended in 2018. The group came together to support the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign’s ‘Fighting for Reproductive Freedom’ Bus Tour, which is traveling across the country. Many of them documented their participation on their Instagram Stories.

Ever since its launch in Palm Beach, Florida on September 3rd, the bus tour has been visiting crucial states as part of its campaign strategy to support the Vice President and her partner in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The team from ‘Scandal’ attended a canvass kickoff event in Madison Heights for the inaugural stop of the Michigan bus tour on Sunday.

What’s the reason for our gathering? Why is the ‘Scandal’ cast in Michigan?” Washington inquired to a group of approximately 130 individuals at Plumbers Local Union 98 headquarters, as reported by The Detroit News. Portions of her speech were shared on Instagram by the actress herself, while the entire speech was recorded on TikTok by her production company, Simpson Street Impact, on their account.

The reason we’re gathered here is because we firmly believe in the greatness of Michigan. Despite being constantly reminded, due to our fortunate involvement in a remarkable show, that we have problems to solve and situations to manage, our true mission is to tackle challenges head-on,” she explained, drawing upon phrases from her character Olivia Pope, “in essence, you are the true warriors.” (In Scandal, Olivia and her team of problem solvers were commonly referred to as the Gladiators.)

Smith Jr., hailing from Detroit, stated, “We recognize you, we empathize with you, and we stand alongside you. This moment belongs to us all. Let’s seize it by dedicating our time and effort.

Washington additionally cautioned, as reported by The Detroit News, that voters face a decision between electing Harris as president or confronting the dread of having a president similar to one we’ve had previously, whose intentions towards our rights are already known. This individual has consistently challenged reproductive rights in the courts and made it exceptionally challenging for women to access essential, potentially life-saving medical care.

At the podium, Goldwyn (the character who portrayed Republican President Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant on Scandal) addressed the audience, saying, “I’m not only here as your former president, but also as the husband of a woman who dedicated her life to fighting for equality and equal opportunities with men, especially in the workplace. I stand before you today as the father of two daughters who have less freedom and fewer rights than their predecessors. I am here as an American man who is infuriated by the fact that one-third of American women of reproductive age live under a Trump-imposed abortion ban.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Scott Foley (@scottkfoley)

2015 saw the airing of a significant episode in the series “Scandal,” which challenged conventional broadcast TV perspectives on abortion. This episode tackled legislation aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood and portrayed Olivia (Washington) undergoing an abortion, with strong indications that the fetus was likely Fitz’s (Goldwyn) child.

Washington recently shared with The Hollywood Reporter her role in the 2024 election, stating, “It’s not merely about political candidates and election periods. Instead, it’s about creating a future where everyone recognizes their influence and their ability to shape our democratic system.

On the continuation of the Reproductive Freedom Bus tour next Monday, actor Adam Scott from “Severance” will speak to supporters and volunteers at the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor.

Meanwhile, the reunion of the Scandal duo transpired, following their recent encounter at the Democratic National Convention. During this event, they were both among the nightly hosts in Hollywood and were unexpectedly brought together on stage. Goldwyn was the host for the opening night, while Washington took charge during the final night when Harris officially received the party’s nomination.

This is the latest example of Hollywood coming out for Harris-Walz. Next up, the cast of HBO’s Veep will reunite for a virtual table read event on Sept. 29, organized by Wisconsin Democrats, of an episode that went viral when President Biden dropped his re-election bid and endorsed Harris. Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus previously hosted a panel during the week of the DNC with the country’s eight Democratic governors.

Read More

2024-09-23 18:55