Exclusive Interview
‘Scandal’: Kerry Washington Reveals How Fitz & Olivia Fan Opinions Have Changed
What To Know
- Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn often have Scandal fans in a frenzy with their reunion photos.
- Eight years after the Scandal finale, Washington tells Swooon her favorite fan reaction to the posts.
- Washington now stars in Apple TV’s Imperfect Women and also reveals the advice Olivia Pope would probably give to her character on the show.
It’s been eight years since the series finale of Scandal aired, but fans are still completely invested in Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant’s (Tony Goldwyn) relationship. Over the years, Washington and Goldwyn have kept Scandal fans fed with IRL selfies and other sweet reunion moments.
While Washington is grateful for the love, she tells Swooon that she’s actually happier to see fans’ realization of how toxic Olivia and Fitz’s relationship really was.
“I think what’s interesting is seeing some of the comments now where people are like, ‘I went back and rewatched, and I don’t know that that was a healthy relationship.’ I kind of love seeing those posts,” Washington tells Swooon. “It’s one thing to watch something in your teens or 20s, but now there are people in their 30s, and they’re like, ‘I don’t know if that’s actually a love I would want.’ Which I think is really interesting and kind of cool that people are really allowing themselves to evolve and grow.”
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Fitz and Olivia’s relationship began as an affair while he was married to Mellie (Bellamy Young), and went through many controversial ups and downs throughout the course of the series. In the finale, it was insinuated (but not confirmed) that they would end up together.
“That show was so special to all of us,” Washington adds. “Those relationships and friendships will be with us forever. I’m happy that people love those characters as much as we loved creating them.”
More recently, Washington starred as Eleanor in Apple TV’s Imperfect Women, and jokes, “Even though Eleanor has so much money, I’m not sure she could afford Olivia Pope!” She also points out that Olivia likely wouldn’t be able to offer Eleanor advice because she’s not exactly “the paradigm of healthy romantic relationships.”
However, she says, “I think Olivia would reinforce this idea of owning your truth. There’s always that theme on Scandal that the secrets always come out, so the more you can lean into your truth and not hide from it, the more powerful you’ll be.”
Imperfect Women, Streaming Now, Apple TV
