Jesse Williams reacts to petition to get him fired
Jesse Williams tweeted out his disappointment over the buzz surrounding a petition to have him fired from "Grey's Anatomy" in response to his stirring speech about human equality at the 2016 BET Awards last month.
The petition on Change.org accuses the 34-year-old actor of being a "racist," and demands that he be fired the ABC medical drama, which he's starred on since 2009. The petition -- which has garnered over 19,000 signatures so far -- claims that Williams "spewed a racist, hate speech against law enforcement and white people."
On Wednesday afternoon, Williams called out the attention being given to the petition, tweeting: "Because you keep incessantly promoting their cowardly intolerance! Not a single sane sentence in their claim. Not One."
The TV star then sent out three more tweets, possibly in reference to the death of Alton Sterling, who was reportedly shot to death by police at a Louisiana store after it was reported to 911 that someone near the store was threatening them with a gun. "In the interest of time, would ye noble patriots please provide a list of infractions punishable by spontaneous public execution? Thanks!" he began. "Upon receipt of this list, we'll return to our quarters and study up, eager to enjoy freedoms of white mass murders. #LIFEHACK"
Williams concluded, "You chumps will NEVER provide this list... We see through you."
The "Grey's" star received a standing ovation following his speech at the BET Awards, which honed in on the right to equality for all and putting an end to racism in America. "Freedom is somehow always conditional here," he told the audience. "Freedom is always coming in the hereafter, but you know what, though? The hereafter is a hustle. We want it now."
Despite the fact that the petition continues to gain signatures, Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes tweeted: "Um, people? Boo don't need a petition. #shondalandrules"
At the BET Awards, Williams spoke to ET about his impassioned, politically charged speech. "I'm here for all the incredible protestors, activists, attorneys, organizers that are sacrificing [an] incredibly great deal to be heard and get access to equal rights and justice in this country," he said. "[The BET Awards] recognizing me is really recognizing them in my view, and I think that means that we're getting traction."