Entertainment TV 'Scandal' 's Kerry Washington Says She 'Loved Saying' That 'Nasty Woman' Line — and Gladiators Loved It Too! "Because a woman in power is a nasty woman," Olivia Pope told newly elected president Mellie Grant in a powerful pep talk on Thursday's episode By Karen Mizoguchi Published on May 4, 2017 10:58PM EDT Share Tweet Pin Email Kerry Washington‘s alter ego Olivia Pope and the Scandal writers made a nod to Hillary Clinton on Thursday’s episode. And amid the current political news, Gladiators had lots to say about it on social media, particularly with many raising hands emojis. “Because a woman in power is a nasty woman,” Pope told newly elected president Mellie Grant in a powerful pep talk on Thursday’s Scandal as Grant prepares to take the Oval Office. Washington reacted to that “nasty woman” line while live-tweeting the episode, giving all the credit to the show’s writers. “All hail the @ScandalWriters But I did love saying it,” the actress responded to a fan’s post. Source Instagram Washington’s costars Joe Morton and Jeff Perry also reacted with tweets of their own. “#NastyWoman #MellieGrant needs to be put in her place, behind the Resolute Desk,” Morton wrote. Of course, the “nasty woman” phrase was first concocted by then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the third and final presidential debate in October. Trump slammed his Democratic opponent Clinton when he leaned into his microphone and interrupted her with a direct dig: “Such a nasty woman.” What was meant to be a slight to Clinton’s temperament soon became a battle cry for women everywhere. Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes and the stars of her TGIT lineup previously voiced their support for Clinton in a campaign video released in March 2016. Rhimes, Washington, Grey’s Anatomy’s Ellen Pompeo, and How to Get Away With Murder’s Viola Davis described the characters they play as “brilliant,” “complex” women who fight for justice and give voice “to the voiceless.” “Our characters are on television,” Washington said. She and the others then added, “The real world has Hillary Clinton.” Scandal airs Thursdays (9 p.m. ET) on ABC.