Ryan Murphy Responds to 'Scream Queens' Racist Comments, Emma Roberts' Chanel Oberlin

Scream Queens, which was recently renewed for a second season, is no stranger to some pretty questionable moments. Creator Ryan Murphy is now responding to criticism early on in the show's run regarding racially insensitive comments made by Emma Roberts' character, Chanel Oberlin.

Speaking at a TCA Press Tour panel last week, Murphy said that the criticism was "valid and interesting," but did not see it as a reflection of the show, but more a reflection of the characters, which he says were based on real-life sorority news stories.

He said, "That story was about a group of young people in the sorority-fraternity system, and a lot of that was based on actual things that Ian, Brad and I were reading about, about what this group of privileged, largely white kids were doing."

Murphy went on to remind the audience that ultimately Chanel and her sorority sisters were brought to justice, and were never portrayed as the heroes of the story. "I don't think we were ever glorifying it, or saying that those characters were brave or wonderful for saying that. We were saying that they were broken, and the system they were in was broken," he said.

Murphy continued, "But I think it's an interesting dialogue to have, and I think we can always be doing better. I was very aware of that when we were working on OJ."

Scream Queens, which received lackluster live ratings throughout the season but was boosted by after-the-fact viewing, was renewed for a second season last week. The theme of the new season is said to be set in a hospital, with several original cast members returning. Lea Michele and Emma Roberts are both rumored to be coming back as their characters.

No word has been released on when season 2 will air. Murphy's latest project, American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson debuts on FX Feb. 2.