Jesse Williams (Photo : Twitter/iJesseWilliams)
"Grey's Anatomy" star Jesse Williams recently went under fire for his controversial speech at the 2016 BET Awards.
According to People, thousands of fans signed a Change.org petition urging executive producer Shonda Rhimes to axe the actor from the hit ABC series.
"Jesse Williams spewed a racist, hate speech against law enforcement and white people at the BET Awards. If this was a white person making the same speech about an African American, they would have been fired and globally chastised, as they should be, but there have been no consequences to Williams' actions. There's been no companies making a stand against his racist remarks and no swift action condemning his negative attitude," the petition read.
The person who created the petition also noted the fact that "Grey's Anatomy" character Dr. Burke was fired from the series after the actor who portrayed the character uttered a homophobic slur.
"Why was Burke's character fired from 'Grey's Anatomy' after his inappropriate homophobic slur, but nothing for Jesse Williams?" the post continued.
Meanwhile, executive producer Shonda Rhimes recently responded to the petition saying that there shouldn't be such a petition in the first place.
"Um, people? Boo don't need a petition. #shondalandrules," she wrote.
Williams also took time off his busy schedule to respond to the petition that was slammed at him.
"Do not promote empty people & their traumas. Pure clickbait to gain followers, attention & money, for themselves, not you. Never you," he wrote.
Williams received the prestigious Humanitarian Award at the 2016 BET Awards last month.
The actor is actively involved in the Black Lives Matter movement that is promoting the fact that the lives of black men and women matter and are important.
In other news, Williams will officially return to "Grey's Anatomy" season 13 to reprise his role as Jackson Avery.
"Grey's Anatomy" season 13 will premiere on ABC sometime this September.
Um, people? Boo don't need a petition. #shondalandrules
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) July 5, 2016
Do not promote empty people & their tantrums. Pure clickbait to gain followers, attention & money, for themselves, not you. Never you. — jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 3, 2016
