Few on-screen duos have captivated audiences quite like Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn did on ABC’s hit political drama Scandal. As Olivia Pope and President Fitzgerald Grant, they shared a love story filled with passion, conflict, and undeniable chemistry.
But off-screen, their connection blossomed into one of the most cherished friendships in Hollywood.
How It All Began
The seeds of Kerry and Tony’s friendship were planted before 2012 when Scandal first aired. During a kiki with Keke Palmer on her podcast, Kerry shared, "When I met Tony Goldwyn, who played the president in Scandal, he and I used to advocate on Capitol Hill for arts funding. We used to, like, walk around D.C. talking to senators and congressmen about maintaining funding for the arts in public schools and in museums. So we had, like, a D.C. relationship before Scandal even started."
Created by the brilliant Shonda Rhimes, Scandal’s intricate plots and emotionally charged scenes required trust and collaboration which they had unknowingly already built. From the very first table read, Kerry and Tony discovered a natural rapport that extended beyond their characters.
Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn attend an evening with EZRA at Writers Guild Theater on May 21, 2024.
Victoria Sirakova/Getty Images
In interviews, the two often recalled how their shared dedication to the craft created an environment where they felt safe to explore the emotional depths of Olivia and Fitz’s complicated relationship. Kerry told PEOPLE, “I never did a chemistry read with Tony.” She went on to say, “I will go anywhere Tony tells me to go.”
It seems that the The Triple Six Eight star needed the type of partner that would help her shoulder the weight of this role. Her role as thee Olivia Pope made her the first Black woman to headline a network drama in 40 years. When speaking with Variety, Kerry said, “I didn’t feel the pressure from my ego, like, ‘I have to make the show work. It was more, ‘If we f–k this up, it’s going to be another 40 years before they let a Black woman be the lead of a network drama. We have to get this right.’ ”
Magical Moments on 'Scandal'
Throughout the show’s seven-season run, Olivia and Fitz’s rollercoaster romance provided fans with countless iconic scenes, many of which were made even more impactful by Kerry and Tony’s off-screen bond. Some highlights include:
The Rose Garden Scene: Who could forget the heart-stopping moment in the Rose Garden when Fitz declares, “I’m in love with you. You own me”? The raw emotion in their performances stemmed from a mutual understanding of their characters’ vulnerabilities.
Vermont Dream House: The fantasy of Olivia and Fitz’s life together in Vermont gave fans a glimpse of what could have been. The warmth and longing in their portrayals spoke volumes about their connection as actors and friends. I too want a house in Vermont with my man, my man, man!
The “One Minute” Moment: This iconic scene in Liv’s perfect apartment, where time seemed to stand still, showcased their ability to convey passion and heartbreak in equal measure. Their trust in each other made the moment unforgettable.
Off-Screen Friendship Goals
While their on-screen chemistry was electric, it’s the moments from their real-life friendship that truly melted fans’ hearts. Here are some standout examples of their camaraderie:
Unwavering Support: Whether it was attending red-carpet events together or sharing heartfelt social media posts, Kerry and Tony consistently champion each other’s successes. When Kerry directed her first episode of Scandal, Tony was among the first to sing her praises, calling her “a natural leader.”
Also, we know Miss Kerry likes to keep her family life out of the spotlight but it was beautiful to see Tony commend her as a parent as she got ready to welcome her second child with husband Nnamdi Asomugha.
Tony told Entertainment Tonight, “We talk about it a lot. I’m always sensitive to give people advice because, what do I know? We talk about our kids and she’s really, she’s always pumping me. She’s thrown herself into motherhood with so much passion and enthusiasm and joy. And it’s just a great thing to see.”
Inside Jokes and Banter: Their playful banter during interviews and behind-the-scenes footage highlighted their easygoing relationship. Fans loved watching their infectious laughter and shared sense of humor.
This summer, Kerry hopped on the Black Wife Effect trend captioning a video, “Tony! I’ve upgraded your life in so many ways #BlackWifeEffect, and today I’m adding one more. Go upgrade your voter registration status to REGISTERED 😜. Love you!!!!!! #RegisterAFriendDay #Olitz”
Kerry took the banter to new heights playing into the show’s epic love triangle with Scott Foley by dressing up as Tashi, Art and Patrick from the 2024 hit movie Challengers.
Post-Scandal Love: Even after Scandal ended in 2018, Kerry and Tony’s friendship endured. They’ve reunited for various projects and appearances, often reminiscing about their time on the show and the bond they formed.
That one time they popped out at the 2022 SAG Awards to present the award for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series. Tony asked, “Should I read the nominees?” to which Kerry replied, “No, it’s handled.”
Getting back to their political roots, Olitz reunited during this year’s election in support of Vice President Kamala Harris. The duo joined the crowd in chanting "When we fight, we win." Seeing the pair together never fails to give us all the feels.
Most recently, Kerry got the cutest surprise while visiting The Jennifer Hudson Show with her Triple Six Eight co-stars. While gushing about the beauty of getting her Hollywood star and all the love she felt, she was surprised with a video message from Tony himself.
Since he couldn’t attend the star ceremony, he shared, “I have known you were a star for a very long time. Frankly from the very first time I saw you on screen.” He continued, “Now the whole world knows it and I’m so sorry I couldn't be with you to celebrate in L.A. but you know that I love you and I’m so proud of you. Congratulations Ker.”
In an industry often plagued by ego and competition, Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn’s friendship serves as a beacon of mutual respect and genuine affection. Their connection reminds fans that behind the glamour of Hollywood, real and meaningful relationships can thrive.
As fans continue to rewatch Scandal (because it’s that time of year) and relive the magic of Olivia and Fitz, Kerry and Tony’s enduring friendship adds an extra layer of joy to their shared legacy. Gladiators for life!
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RELATED
Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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