Shonda Rhimes is undeniably in a lane of her own.
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Success Over The Years
The writer and producer dominated television airways. Then she transitioned to working alongside streaming service Netflix, where she’s behind series like “Inventing Anna” and “Bridgerton.”
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Although Rhimes is closely associated with Netflix, she previously held a 15-year relationship with ABC, where she birthed some of her most beloved projects including, “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” and “How to Get Away With Murder.” In addition, the multi-talent had been responsible for nearly 70 hours of television content across 256 territories.
Why Her Time With ABC Came To An End
However, Rhimes ultimately decided to depart from ABC in 2017 due to issues with the network that included claims of complaints about budgets, content, and an advertisement created for Hillary Clinton.
“I felt like I was dying,” Rhimes told The Hollywood Reporter. “Like I’d been pushing the same ball up the same hill in the exact same way for a really long time.”
While higher-ups were deliberating Rhimes’ future with the network, they were reportedly drawing out the process and attempting to pay her less than her worth. However, what ultimately broke the straw on the camel’s back was a trip to Disneyland.
Under her agreement with ABC, Rhimes received an all-inclusive pass to the California park, and she also negotiated to have her nanny join. However, later she requested one for her sister, but she found herself going back and forth with the network — then was told, “We never do this,” several times. Although the additional pass was given to her, only one of the passes worked. Assuming it would be a quick fix, Rhimes claims she was met with the response, “Don’t you have enough?” — from an executive.
The move to Netflix: Rhimes immediately called her lawyer and decided it was time to close the doors with ABC and transition to Netflix. Rhimes’ wishes were met and she agreed to a nine-figure overall deal that cemented a partnership with her production company, Shondaland, and Netflix.
“Shondaland’s move to Netflix is the result of a shared plan Ted Sarandos and I built based on my vision for myself as a storyteller and for the evolution of my company. Ted provides a clear, fearless space for creators at Netflix. He understood what I was looking for — the opportunity to build a vibrant new storytelling home for writers with the unique creative freedom and instantaneous global reach provided by Netflix’s singular sense of innovation. The future of Shondaland at Netflix has limitless possibilities,” Rhimes said in a statement, according to The New York Times.
