Shonda Rhimes responds to petition to fire actor from "Grey's Anatomy"

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July 5, 2016 6:06 PM

A petition was created against Jesse Williams by a woman on Change.org following the actor's viral BET Awards acceptance speech.

Following 34-year-old

According to the petition, Jesse Williams speech is a 'racist' speech.

"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 has been no consequences to Williams’ actions," Smith wrote.

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"Grey’s Anatomy" showrunner Shonda Rhimes, has responded to the petition, showing her support for Jesse Williams who plays Dr. Jackson Avery on her show.

According to Rhimes, "Boo don't need a petition" for his lauded yet controversial speech at the BET Awards.

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As of Tuesday, July 4, 2016, Smith's petition has received more than 3,955 signatures, while the petition that supports Williams has 3,268.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2016, Stacy Dash described Jesses Williams as a 'plantation slave' for his BET Awards speech.

undefined last month and used the opportunity to give a rousing speech about racism, police brutality, cultural appropriation, systematic oppression, equal rights and justice.

Williams received the award for his activism in the Black Lives Matters movement.

Williams character on "Grey's Anatomy" welcomed a child with his ex-wife April in season 12 finale of the medical drama.

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