Shonda Rhimes on 'Scandal': From 'Olitz' Breakup to Olivia Pope's Midseason Abortion

Olivia Pope, the Beltway's ultimate fixer, doesn't know who she is yet.

Shonda Rhimes should know -- she created the lead Gladiator and the Washington where Olivia (Kerry Washington) sees the worst and picks up the pieces every week on Scandal. According to Global Grind, Rhimes and the cast of Scandal appeared on the show's PaleyFest panel last Tuesday night, where she discussed Olivia's path.

Rhimes -- who also produces ABC blockbusters Grey's Anatomy and How to Get Away With Murder -- said that while Olivia's main story has been her on-again/off-again romances with the president, Fitz Grant (Tony Goldwyn) and CIA operative Jake Ballard (Scott Foley). Rhimes says the love stories are part of a much grander tale; Olivia's just embarked on a journey of self-discovery, which began with her decision to have an abortion in the midseason finale.

"I'm happy that you have fallen in love with Fitz, because that is the journey that Olivia went on. She fell in love with Fitz, she fell into a forbidden romance, she bought the fantasy. And then she got the fantasy and then she discovered that the fantasy was not real," Rhimes said. "It does not mean that she does not love Fitz, and it does not mean that Fitz is not deserving of love. It just means that Olivia does not know who she is yet."

Variety reports that, during the panel, a fan of the show asked whether Fitz would ever find out about the abortion. The superproducer replied that she doesn't know if Fitz should ever find out, emphasizing that it was a decision Olivia made regarding her own body.

The next episode of Scandal will air this Thursday on ABC.