Shonda Rhimes 'Angry Black Woman' Characterization Angers Fans, Celebs After New York Times Article

Listen up, New York Times: Shonda Rhimes is not an "angry black woman." That's the message Rhimes and her fans are sending to the New York Times after the newspaper published an article Friday using that racially loaded term to describe the producer of such hit and diverse shows as "Scandal," "Grey's Anatomy" and the new "How to Get Away with Murder."

"When Shonda Rhimes writes her autobiography, it should be called 'How to Get Away With Being an Angry Black Woman,'" New York Times television writer Alessandra Stanley wrote in the first line of the article, later adding, "Ms. Rhimes has embraced the trite but persistent caricature of the Angry Black Woman, recast it in her own image and made it enviable."

Rhimes quickly took to Twitter to defend her work and point out that she didn't consider herself or her characters "angry black" women. "Final thing: (then I am gonna do some yoga): how come I am not 'an angry black woman' the many times Meredith (or Addison!) rants? @nytimes," she tweeted.

Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey on "Grey's Anatomy," backed Rhimes up. "Didn't Meredith Grey (Medusa) and Christina Yang also terrify and intimidate medical students?" she tweeted.

Other stars who work with Rhimes also chimed in. "Scandal" actress Kerry Washington tweeted several articles decrying the New York Times portrayl. "Wow," tweeted "Scandal's" Joshua Malina. "Did I just read a @nytimes piece that reduced my brilliant, creative, compassionate, thoughtful, bada** boss to an 'angry black woman?'"

Many have called the New York Times article racist, or, at the very least, fraught with racist stereotypes. "The Angry Black Woman is a racist trope used to deny black women their humanity," Jezebel writer Kara Brown wrote. "Black women aren't allowed to be complicated — they're just angry. Black women aren't allowed to be upset or vulnerable — they're just angry."

The New York Times' public editor, Margaret Sullivan, said Monday commentators had reason to protest the story. "There are some big questions here – about diversity, about editing procedures and about how The Times deals with stories about women and race. They are worth exploring in depth," Sullivan wrote.

Amid the increasingly negative reaction to her article, Stanley refused to back down. "The whole point of the piece -- once you read past the first 140 characters -- is to praise Shonda Rhimes for pushing back so successfully on a tiresome but insidious stereotype," she said in a statement.

Reality TV star Omarosa Manigault, who was often portrayed as angry on various TV shows, called the New York Times article a "deliberate attempt to trivialize" Rhimes' success. “I am deeply disappointed in the author,” Omarosa told The Wrap. “I believe what she did is libelous and is the highest form of defamation. It undermines the incredible accomplishments Shonda has made. Calling her an ‘angry black woman’ is nothing short of defamation.”