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Just two days after Michelle Obama's 'When We All Vote' rally in Atlanta, Shonda Rhimes joined V-103's The Big Tigger Morning Show to discuss the event and early voting.
LISTEN NOW: Shonda Rhimes discusses the importance of early voting
“It was incredible,” Shonda says of this week’s event. “The amount of students that were there, the amount of young people that were there, the energy that was there. Mrs. Obama gave an amazing speech to everybody and really riled up the crowd. We had a drum line… It was great because I think what it really did was encourage people to use their voice by voting.”
Touching on the importance of the current race, Rhimes believes this is “probably the most consequential election of our lifetime. But I think, more importantly, the things that are being decided, the issues that are on the line are issues that are going to affect people for generations to come. The idea that reproductive choice or the choices you make with your body might be taken away," she says. "The idea that they've already gotten rid of Affirmative Action. They've already gotten rid of the Voting Rights Act. There's all these things that, if we have the right people in office, we can bring them back. We can also move forward.”
“I don't think that you need celebrities to influence the masses,” Shonda says of this week’s rally, however, she adds, “I think you need celebrities to sometimes bring people into the conversation. There are people who might not have shown up if we didn't have Kerry Washington there last night. So, to me, it feels important because if it's gonna make more people engage in the conversation, or hear the message, then I think it matters.”
“I don't think that celebrities’ personal messages should be the issue,” she adds. “I think the campaign issue should be voiced, and I think that encouraging people to vote is something everybody can do.”
Looking back on her first voting experience, Shonda says “I was very excited. I think Bill Clinton was running for President at the time and I remember feeling nervous, like I didn't know what to do once I got in the booth. But of course, when you get in there, it's really easy. And then when you come out -- I felt excited, and I felt like an adult, and I felt like I was part of our country.”
“I still feel the same way,” Shonda admits. “The only difference is that I my daughters with me to the polling place.”
Listen to the full chat with Shonda Rhimes above, and stay tuned for more conversations with your favorite stars and artists right here on Audacy.