Scandal cast reunites to champion reproductive rights in Michigan

A powerful reunion for a vital cause

The cast of the acclaimed political drama Scandal reunited in Michigan to advocate for reproductive rights, capturing the event through a flurry of social media posts. Kerry Washington, who portrayed the iconic Olivia Pope, was joined by her former co-stars Tony Goldwyn, Guillermo Díaz, Bellamy Young, Katie Lowes, Dan Bucatinsky, Scott Foley, Portia de Rossi, George Newbern, Jeff Perry, and Cornelius Smith Jr. This gathering, five years after the show concluded in 2018, was part of the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign’s Fighting for Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour.

The tour’s mission and impact

Since its inception in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 3, the bus tour has been making strategic stops across key states, engaging both blue and red communities. The goal is to rally support for the Vice President and her running mate ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The Scandal cast made their appearance at a canvass launch in Madison Heights, marking the first stop of the Michigan leg of the tour.

Kerry Washington’s impassioned speech

Addressing a crowd of approximately 130 people at the Plumbers Local Union 98 headquarters, Washington posed a poignant question: “Why are we here? Why is the cast of Scandal in Michigan?” She shared snippets of her speech on Instagram, while the full address was captured on TikTok by her production company, Simpson Street Impact.

“The reason we’re here is because we know that Michigan is where it’s at,” Washington declared. She emphasized the importance of the state in the upcoming election, drawing parallels to her character’s role in the show. “Although we get told on a regular basis — because we were so blessed to be a part of a really special show — that we need to ‘fix stuff,’ that we need to ‘handle it,’ [that we need] to come in and take care of a crisis,” she said, “the reality is that you are the real gladiators.”

A personal connection to the cause

Cornelius Smith Jr., a Detroit native, added a heartfelt message: “We see you. We feel you, and we are with you. This is our time. We have to claim it with our time and our energy.”

Washington also issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of the upcoming election. She highlighted the threat posed by a former president who has consistently attacked reproductive rights, making it increasingly difficult for women to access essential medical care.

Tony Goldwyn’s heartfelt address

Tony Goldwyn, who played Republican President Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant on Scandal, also took the stage. “I’m here not just as your former president,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from the crowd. “I’m here as the husband of a woman who fought her entire life for equality and for equal footing with the men in her life, particularly the men in her workplace. I’m standing here as the father of two daughters who are less free and who have fewer rights than the generation before them. I’m standing here today as an American man who is outraged by the fact that one-third of American women of reproductive age live under a Trump abortion ban.”

A groundbreaking episode revisited

In 2015, Scandal aired a pivotal episode that reshaped the conversation around abortion on broadcast TV. The episode tackled legislation aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood and featured Olivia Pope undergoing an abortion, with the baby likely belonging to Fitz. This narrative choice was both bold and influential, reflecting the show’s commitment to addressing critical social issues.

Washington’s ongoing commitment

Kerry Washington recently expressed her dedication to the 2024 election, stating, “This isn’t just about candidates and election cycles. It’s about building a future where everyone understands their voice and their power within our democracy.”

Looking ahead

As the Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour continues, Severance star Adam Scott is set to appear in Ann Arbor to engage with supporters and volunteers at the University of Michigan campus. The Scandal reunion follows Washington and Goldwyn’s recent appearance at the Democratic National Convention, where they were among the nightly Hollywood hosts and made a surprise onstage appearance together.

Hollywood’s ongoing support

This event is part of a broader trend of Hollywood figures rallying behind the Harris-Walz campaign. Next, the cast of HBO’s Veep will reunite for a virtual table read event on September 29, organized by Wisconsin Democrats. This episode gained significant attention when President Biden announced his re-election bid and endorsed Harris. Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus previously hosted a panel with the country’s eight Democratic governors during the week of the DNC.

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