Ellen Pompeo's call for more diversity is very important

Gabrielle Union's face says it all.

(Image credit: John Salangsang/BFA/REX/Shutterstock)

Gabrielle Union's face says it all.

Words by Emily Lambe

Ellen Pompeo is known for speaking her mind, calling out her struggle for equal pay on the set of Grey's Anatomy and pushing for an end to workplace discrimination. And this week was no different.

While in discussion with Gabrielle Union, Gina Rodriguez, and Emma Roberts to talk sexism, equal pay and racism in the TV industry in an interview with Net-a-Porter, she took her time on stage to make a very powerful statement and call out the lack of diversity in the room.

'This day has been incredible, and there's a ton of women in the room, but I don't see enough colour, and I didn't see enough colour when I walked in the room today,' she announced.

'As Caucasian people, it's our job. It's our task. It's our responsibility to make sure that we speak up in every single room we walk into that this is not OK and that we can all do better. It's our job, because we've created the problem.'

Speaking about including people of colour in her own productions, Rodriguez added, 'From the PAs to the top producer to the money man to the money woman to the lead actress, everyone's treated equally. Kindly.'

Union also weighed in, 'I wonder what the shoot would be like if it were a female photographer. But I never, never would have thought to say it in this space because I don't want to appear ungrateful.'

Unsurprisingly, Ellen Pompeo started a Twitter movement with her comments.

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