Ellen Pompeo urges white people to take action against lack of diversity in Hollywood

Pompeo says Caucasian people must take responsibility because they "created the problem"

Ellen Pompeo has urged white people to take action against the lack of diversity in Hollywood, telling them to speak out on every possible occasion.

The actor made her point during a talk organised by Porter magazine, titled “The Big Television Debate”.

Speaking as part of a panel that also included Gabrielle Union, Gina Rodriguez, and Emma Roberts, Pompeo pointed out the importance of making sure crews and film sets are inclusive.

“This day has been incredible. And there’s a ton of women in the room. But I don’t see enough colour,” she said.

“And I didn’t see enough colour when I walked in the room today.

“And I had a meeting with the director of another endorsement project that I’m doing. I said, “When I show up on set I would like to see the crew look like the world that I walk around in every day.

"And I think it’s up to all productions to make sure that your crew looks like the world we see.”

Pompeo, who has become the highest paid actress in a TV drama for her role on Grey’s Anatomy, added: “As Caucasian people, it’s our job, it’s our task, it’s our responsibility to speak up in every single room we walk into. That this is not OK. That we can all do better.

“It’s our job because we created the problem.”

Her comments earned acclaim on Twitter, where many social media users praised her for taking a stand.

“I love Ellen Pompeo so much. She normalizes the idea of diversity for other white people who don’t understand it,” one person wrote.

“Instead of acting like she should be praised for it, she recognises that it is NORMAL to want and have diversity and representation.”

Union has long called for more representation in the film industry.

“Diversity is super limited, so I hate using the word,” she told Byrdie earlier this year.

“I prefer inclusion. So let’s talk numbers because they might think they’re including ‘diversity’ that actually doesn’t equate to any sort of real inclusion.”

Rodriguez has worked to give performers of colour more visibility by using the hashtag #MovementMondays on her Instagram account.

Back when she started the movement, Rodriguez mainly featured Latino actors, and she has since broadened her focus.

She has recently highlighted the work of Puerto Rican actor Ismael Cruz Cordova, American musical theatre star Lindsay Mendez, and British Malaysian actor Henry Golding.