Kerry Washington Reflects on Alerting White House About 'Scandal' Role

The actress reached out to Obama administration officials to ensure her role as Olivia Pope wouldn't conflict with her political responsibilities.

Kerry Washington revealed she contacted Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to Barack Obama, after being cast in 'Scandal' to discuss her character's affair with a fictional president.
At the time, Washington was a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and wanted to ensure there were no conflicts of interest.
The Obama administration assured her that her role on the show was not a concern, emphasizing that it was fictional entertainment.
Washington and her co-star Tony Goldwyn, who played President Fitzgerald Grant, had a strong rapport, having worked together on arts advocacy in Washington, D.C., prior to the show.
The series, created by Shonda Rhimes, ran from 2012 to 2018 and was inspired by real-life crisis manager Judy Smith, who also served as a producer on the show.