President Fitzgerald (Tony Goldwyn) is prepared to forgive Olivia (Kerry Washington) after he learns that she aborted the child they made together in "Scandal" season 5.
Goldwyn recently talked to The Hollywood Reporter to discuss what happened in the ABC hit series before its winter hiatus. In the midseason finale, Olivia told Fitz that they could no longer be together. She decided to leave the White House and even got an abortion without the president's knowledge. When "Scandal" returns for its second half of the current installment, it appears that Fitz will not be harboring any negative feelings for his mistress.
The actor believed there's still hope for the two characters to fix their relationship. According to him, Fitz and Olivia's love for each other remain strong and even if gets tested every now and then, it would not change. He said that people who get to love "as primally" as the pair do could come back from anything, even after facing a sensitive issue like abortion. At of the latest episode, the president of the United States is still unaware that his estranged girlfriend ended her pregnancy.
"I can't imagine how Fitz will react when he finds out about the abortion. But his feelings for Olivia defy logic. If Fitz were smart, he'd stay 100 miles away from her; he should get in another relationship because, really, how much abuse can two people take? How much pain and suffering? And yet I don't think they have a choice in the matter with this," Goldwyn explained.
In the past, Fitz was able to forgive Olivia for letting Rowan (Joe Morton) escape from prison. Her father was the reason Fitz's son was dead, and although viewers expected him to fly into rage about her betrayal, his love and understanding led him to absolve her.
While Fitz is heartbroken because of the separation, Olivia is also not faring better, no matter how many times she tells herself otherwise. Goldwyn let slip that there would be "a tremendous backlash" for Olivia when realization sinks in.
"I think Olivia is lying to herself. Fitz may have been replaced by a couch, but the couch is an inanimate object. Olivia has to look in the mirror and realize that she's pushed away everybody who is close to her life and the man she does love."
"Scandal" season 5 will return on Feb. 11 at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.
