Hollywood's gender pay gap and its overall lack of opportunities for women have been major topics of discussion throughout 2016. Directing is one of the fields in which women are most sorely underrepresented—a damning study last year found that female directors were attached to just seven percent of top-grossing movies—and Ryan Murphy is one of the industry heavy-hitters who's vowing to change things.

Taking the stage at The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment breakfast, the creator of Glee and American Horror Story began his speech with an apology. "I'd like to tell the women in this room a few things I am guessing no man in your life or in Hollywood has ever said to you lately, or in combination: I am sorry. It was my fault. I could have done better. I am going to do better. And I have no interest in sleeping with you, I just like you a lot."

Murphy was introduced by Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, who both star in the upcoming Feud, his latest project for FX. He went on to share an anecdote about shooting "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia," the standout episode of The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story which focuses on the sexism Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) endured during her time as lead prosecutor on the OJ trial.

"It was important to me to have a woman direct that episode," Murphy explained, but the female director who was slated to direct had to drop out due to a medical emergency. With only two weeks left until shooting began, Murphy stepped in to direct the episode himself, but later felt ashamed for making that decision.

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"I felt I had failed," he said. "I have always had female directors on my shows, but why here didn't I feel I had a roster of women around me who I could turn this important episode over to? Why weren't these women on speed-dial? Why did I make the choice that was easier for me, but not for the material, or the world in general?" He compared Hollywood's existing roster of go-to directors to "a very straight, white, male, middle-aged McDonald's menu" from which you make a selection based largely on habit and laziness.

Realizing he was part of a flawed hiring system, Murphy decided to make a change. In February he launched the Half Foundation, vowing to have 50% of the director slots on his various shows (American Horror Story, Scream Queens, American Crime Story and Feud) filled by women, people of color or members of the LGBTQ community by the end of 2016. Ten months on, he has exceeded that goal with 60% of the directors on his shows falling within those criteria.

Just in case you needed another reason to feel great about your American Horror Story obsession.

From: Harper's BAZAAR US