When Ellen Pompeo walked onto the set of the all-women panel interview she was filming for Net-a-Porter she noticed something that made her feel uncomfortable. There were hardly any people of colour in the room.
She held her tongue at the time – as did fellow actress Gabrielle Union. But when the on-camera discussion turned to issues of racial representation she decided to call out Porter magazine for what she saw.
“This day has been incredible, and there’s a ton of women in the room, but I don’t see enough colour, and I didn’t see enough colour when I walked in the room today,” the Grey’s Anatomy star said.
Ellen wasn’t referring to the panel itself, which was also made up of Emma Roberts, Gina Rodriguez and Gabrielle Union, but of the crew behind the scenes.
Watch Ellen calling it as she sees it:
The 49-year-old said it was an example of a much larger problem that she sees across Hollywood and identifies as her duty to address whenever she comes across.
“And meeting with a director of another endorsement project that I’m doing, I said: ‘You know, when I show up on set, I would like to see the crew look like the world that I walk around in every day.’
Top Comments
Some high-level virtue signalling there. Shouldn't they hire the best people for the job, regardless of skin colour?
I listened to a discussion regarding section for an orchestra. Typically there was an under representation or women being selected. They then did blind auditions but there was still a disparity between men and women. Finally they made one more change. Put down carpet. After doing this the selection evened out. It turned out that the the sound of heels which the women typically wore gave away their gender. Once the carpet was introduced it was only talent that could be judged.
So yes, you are right; they should hire the best people for the job regardless of skin colour, but they don't.