Grey’s Anatomy’s Ellen Pompeo was “deeply against” this storyline

Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo has revealed the storyline that she was “deeply against“.

For two decades, the actor has been leading the medical drama, and she’s made it clear that she intends to continue in this role for some time yet.

In an exclusive chat with Variety, I shared my ongoing dedication to preserving the exceptional caliber of the series and the evolution of Meredith Grey’s character.

Earlier this year, the actor mentioned a two-part episode from season 21 that aired, featuring Lena Waithe’s character attempting to secure a liver transplant for her spouse.

Trouble arises when it becomes known that Waithe’s character hid the fact that her spouse was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s to facilitate a transplant, causing Meredith to respond forcefully.

“I don’t always have a say in the choices the character makes,” Pompeo said.

Writers often develop a plot first, then contemplate, “Would the character of Meredith Grey, whom I created, actually choose this?” This past season, I found myself strongly opposed to a decision that Meredith was taking.

The issue I had with the storyline was that the Meredith Grey character I envisioned would have consistently expressed, ‘I’m upset that you lied, but let’s devise a plan to bypass the system and secure the liver for you. The system is flawed, it needs fixing.’

Instead, Meredith opts, for some unexplained reason, to feel angry and inform UNOS [United Network for Organ Sharing] as well as the board that she lied and shouldn’t receive the liver – a stark contrast to her 20-year history of manipulating the system to act ethically.

“She’s done free surgeries, whatever it takes, to actually heal and help people.”

Pompeo acknowledged that she initially reacted emotionally, unaware that the two-part episode served primarily to develop Scott Speedman’s character, Dr. Nick Marsh, instead of Meredith.

At the close of the day, it seems clear to me that Meg Marinis, Debbie Allen, and Shonda Rhimes, in their respective roles as showrunner, director, and creator, understand that my vocal input regarding the creative aspects of the show is rooted in a strong passion for the program itself.

My role is about preserving Shonda Rhimes’ legacy with integrity and dedication. If we ever grow complacent, careless, or lack effort, then we are falling short of our responsibilities for which we are compensated.

In the United States, you can catch season 21 of Grey’s Anatomy every Thursday at 10pm Eastern Time on ABC. If you’re in the UK and want to rewatch previous seasons, they are available for streaming on Disney+.

Read more Grey’s Anatomy news on our dedicated homepage

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2025-05-01 12:49