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Scandal Winter Finale: Olivia Pope Gets an Abortion, Mellie Grant Defends Planned Parenthood — the Internet Reacts

The Scandal Season 5 winter finale didn’t involve rigging votes or killing off main characters, but it still managed to grab the attention of the Internet. The Thursday, Nov. 19, episode got people talking when former First Lady turned Junior Senator Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young) filibustered in favor of funding for Planned Parenthood, and then again when a distraught Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) got an abortion without telling President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn), her boyfriend and Mellie’s ex-husband.

Scandal
Olivia Pope gets an abortion on Scandal Season 5.

Related: Get Olivia Pope's Scandal Style – Get It for Less!

As “Silent Night” played (the Christmas season was in full swing in Thursday’s episode), Olivia’s procedure was depicted in a more detailed manner  stirrups and all  than is normally shown on network TV.

The emotional and controversial episode ended with Fitz and Olivia breaking up for the umpteenth time, which, in this context, was one of the least shocking moments from the winter finale.

Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) and Olivia (Kerry Washington) broke on during the Scandal Season 5 finale.

Naturally, the Internet exploded with reactions to the Shondaland creation’s bold plotlines. Planned Parenthood tweeted, “Thanks to @shondarhimes for standing with Planned Parenthood & for being groundbreaking creator! #Scandal #StandWithPP. Mellie Grant is #InOurCorner! #Scandal #TGIT #StandWithPP.”

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Young and Shonda Rhimes also clarified that every item Mellie lists as a wasteful spending measure by the government  “$331,00 to study ‘hangry’ individuals,” “$5 million we’re spending on Senate haircare services,” and “a $25,000 travel stipend for the Alabama Watermelon Queen”  and during her 16-hour filibuster is factually accurate.

Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young) filibustered in favor of Planned Parenthood funding on Scandal Season 5.

“The #Scandal writers did their research– every budget item Mellie recites it actually REAL. #TGIT,” creator Rhimes tweeted.

See what others on the Internet had to say about the shocking moments:

 

Tell Us: What did you think of Scandal’s winter finale?

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