Shonda Rhimes Reflects on Her Early Fame as 'Being Stung by a Thousand Bees' — Here's Why

Shonda Rhimes, creator of Greys Anatomy, recently reflected on the challenges she faced when fame first came knocking. Speaking at a 92NY event in October during the Shonda Rhimes in Conversation with Robin Roberts: Year of Yes panel, the television producer revealed how unprepared she felt for public attention early in her career.

"It was shocking to be in a situation where I was creating stories for others who deserved the spotlight, and suddenly people wanted to talk to me," Rhimes shared. "It felt like being stung by a thousand bees incredibly stressful."

The 55-year-old, known for hits like Scandal and Private Practice, described the difficulty of adjusting to life in the public eye. "My job was to imagine things," she explained. "There aren't many TV creators whose names people instantly recognize."

To overcome her anxiety about fame, Rhimes adopted a proactive approach. "I started by doing small things. Ive always believed that facing your fear head-on is the best way to diminish it," she said. She cited giving a commencement speech to 10,000 people as one of her first major steps into the public sphere, followed by an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! "It was terrifying, but once it was over, I realized it wasnt as bad as I thought."

Rhimes emphasized the importance of reframing failure. "The worst outcome is simply that I fail," she noted. "But there are countless other outcomes that could be even better than failure. So, why not take the risk?"

With decades of television experience behind her, Rhimes feels far more confident today. "Each time I face the public, I grow more comfortable," she said. She highlighted a pivotal moment of confidence during her interview with Oprah Winfrey for her book Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person. "That was the first time I felt truly like myself not overthinking my words, not stressed by the questions. Since then, its been a journey of progress, with a few setbacks along the way."

Author: Sophia Brooks