If you didn't hear the news, Scandal star Kerry Washington is reportedly pregnant with her second child with husband Nnamdi Asomugha. According to E! News, while attending the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner, Washington supposedly sported a baby bump, but there has yet to be any response regarding the matter. Bustle has reached out to Washington's rep for comment, but did not receive an immediate response. But if she is pregnant, I'm sure Scandal fans (like myself) can't help but wonder if the 39-year-old TV star's pregnancy would be written into the show. Will Olivia be pregnant on Scandal ? Really, what are the odds that the series would make Olivia pregnant, again? Never say never, but I have a strong feeling that it won't happen.
Viewers learned Olivia was pregnant with Fitz's child in the Season 5 winter finale, which resulted in her getting an abortion. It was hugely progressive and something that Shonda Rhimes turned into an eye-opening and brave moment. So, it just wouldn't make much sense to have Olivia become pregnant all over again. Since getting her abortion, not much has changed for Olivia regarding becoming a mother anytime soon. It's clear she is very focused on herself, her career, helping Mellie become the next president, and also getting her power back in the White House.
Not only would Olivia becoming pregnant not make sense for the character, but I don't think it'd be the right choice for her story line. There is always the chance that Rhimes would write Washington's supposed real-life pregnancy into the show and then have Olivia get another abortion. However, that may take away from the progressive nature of the Olivia's abortion in "Baby, It's Cold Outside." It's not that I don't have faith in Rhimes to pull it off again, but it's just something that I don't see happening.
Furthermore, there are now reports that Scandal Season 6 may be pushed to midseason due to Washington's reported pregnancy. Per TVLine, ABC is slated to announce its fall schedule in two weeks, but Scandal may be absent from the docket. It appears that Scandal could very well be delayed until midseason, which also means the chances of Olivia being pregnant are slim to none. The longer the hiatus between wrapping Season 5 and the Season 6 premiere would give Washington enough time to have her second child and then return to the series post-pregnancy.
During Washington's first pregnancy, which was during Season 3, not only did ABC trim the episode order, but she was also featured in less scenes. A real-life pregnancy, especially when it is the star of the series, can affect a series greatly.
That said, I have a feeling Washington's reported second pregnancy won't affect Olivia in any way. Admittedly, I hope it doesn't, because I'm not convinced it'd be the right move for Olivia's story line. But, if anyone can try to persuade me otherwise, it's Shonda.
Image: Byron Cohen/ABC; Giphy
