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Shonda Rhimes: Fame Felt Like Being Stung by Bees
1 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Rhimes felt unprepared for early fame, comparing it to bee stings.
- She overcame fear by saying 'yes' to daunting public appearances.
- Rhimes felt most authentic during an Oprah interview in 2015.
Television titan Shonda Rhimes recently shared candid reflections on her initial experiences with widespread fame. Following the breakout success of "Grey's Anatomy," Rhimes found herself thrust into the public eye, a position she felt profoundly unprepared for. She described the intense scrutiny and attention as a deeply unsettling experience, akin to a swarm of bees stinging her.
Rhimes detailed a personal strategy to overcome this discomfort: confronting her fears head-on by accepting challenging opportunities. This approach, encapsulated by her "Year of Yes" mindset, involved taking on daunting tasks like delivering commencement speeches and appearing on national television. These actions, though terrifying, gradually diminished her apprehension.
Over time, Rhimes has grown more comfortable with her public persona. She identified a pivotal interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2015 for her book "Year of Yes" as a significant moment where she felt genuinely authentic. While acknowledging it was a journey with ups and downs, that conversation marked a crucial step towards self-acceptance in the spotlight.
