Shonda Rhimes hires private security to fend off angry ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ fans

It’s not easy for the behind-the-scenes creators who do gymnastics with viewers’ favorite TV characters, because if fans don’t like the character development, a brutal public lynching ensues.

This is evidenced by the story of executive producer Shonda Rhimes, who in 2015 bore the public’s displeasure on her own back.

The reason for the frenzy of fans is the finale of the 11th season of the hit series “Grey’s Anatomy”. The latest episode has unleashed such spectacular fury that Rimes has begun to fear for her life and that of her children.

“I know fans tend to feel passionate emotions. I accept that. They see the characters as their friends and react strongly when something unexpected happens to them. But the way they took the finale of ‘Anatomy…’ was really weird,” the producer recalled in an interview with The Sunday Times.

If you haven’t seen the series about the doctors of Seattle Gray Hospital, prepare yourself for a huge spoiler at this point.

The reason why loyal fans of “Grey’s Anatomy” erupted against Shonda Rhimes is that at the end of season 11, the producer killed off the character Dr. Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey.

The on-screen surgeon charmed fans of the medical series and kept the drama going with his whirlwind romance with Meredith Gray (Ellen Pompeo).

Avid fans of the production were shocked when they saw that the doctor’s series continued without one of their most beloved characters and instinctively attacked the author of the idea – Shonda Rhimes.

Rhimes herself claims that she expected there to be snarky and sour comments after the episode aired, but she had no idea that the outrage would leave the boundaries of normal.

The day after the end of season 11, an angry mob of fans gathered outside the producer’s home and protested on her doorstep for an entire week. Rhimes had to seek the assistance of the police to be able to enter his house undisturbed.

However, the intervention of the law enforcement agencies is only the beginning of the viewer’s rebellion against the producer.

Fans of the series continued to vent their feelings with angry letters and death threats that made it clear they were not happy with the way the season ended.

“People got really mean. And you never know how far they can go. The police cars didn’t startle them. I ended up having to hire 24-hour private security because it started to get dangerous,” Rhimes said.

She was worried about the safety of her three daughters as there was a possibility that the mob would invade her home.

“I wanted to be able to walk through the front door with my kids and not have to worry. I started having trouble sleeping because of the stress. Luckily, I had friends who had been through the same thing and helped me through it,” Rhimes said. .

But after the effect of the shock in the fans wore off and people accepted that “Grey’s Anatomy” continued without Dr. Derek Shepard, the situation calmed down, and Rhimes’ life and work returned to their old pace.