Shonda Rhimes Defends Netflix's Bridgerton Lawsuit
Bridgerton executive producer Shonda Rhimes responded to Netflix's Unofficial Bridgerton Musical lawsuit against TikTok stars Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. Rhimes transformed Julia Quinn's popular romance novels into one of the most watched streaming series in 2020, building a massive and dedicated fanbase. Like the books, each season of Bridgerton focuses on a member of the titular family's high-profile romantic life in Regency Era London. Season one struck gold for Netflix, unfurling the story of Daphne Bridgerton's fiery love with Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), under the watchful eye of Lady Whistledown (narrated by Julie Andrews).
With most of the world in lockdown during Bridgerton's premiere, the ratings were through the roof. Many took to TikTok, another lockdown obsession, to share their love for the show. Singer-songwriter duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear took things to the next level by composing songs based on the show. One video turned into a viral movement, inspiring Barlow & Bear to continue fleshing out an entire musical. The venture soon went from a fan fiction project to becoming The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical album. After reaching #1 on the iTunes US Pop Chart, the pair was named Best Musical Theater Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
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Barlow & Bear continued their parade by staging The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical at the prestigious Kennedy Center on July 26, 2022. While the sold-out crowd and critics gave a positive response to the theatrical experience, Netflix wasn't as charmed. The streaming giant sued the creatives for copyright infringement after several attempts to negotiate with them. After the news
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