Grey’s Anatomy
Grey ’s Anatomyis one of the most successful medical dramatic event in recent twelvemonth , but it has also been quite controversial behind the scenes , making headline for years due to problems with the casting and more – and here ’s a timeline of everyGrey ’s Anatomyon - set controversy . make by Shonda Rhimes , Grey ’s Anatomypremiered on ABC in 2005 as a mid - season alternate , but it was so well - received by critics and viewers that it has lived on for over 15 seasons . Even though the caliber of the show has decreased over the year , Grey ’s Anatomycontinues to be quite democratic , and not even the many controversy it has extend through have stopped it .
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Life on the set ofGrey ’s Anatomyis not what it seems , and the show has been involved in various controversies of all kinds for years , directly bear upon the fates of some characters and even damage the relationship of some actors with their co - stars and even with Shonda Rhimes herself . Here ’s a timeline of every on - solidifying controversyGrey ’s Anatomyhas gone through .
2005 – Grey’s Anatomy Casting Controversy
Controversy aroundGrey ’s Anatomyquietly began before the show aired , but was n’t known until twelvemonth later . verbalize to Tavis Smiley ’s podcast ( viaUS Magazine ) in October 2021 , Isaiah Washington revealed he originally auditioned forthe role of Derek Shepherd , but was pay $ 10,000 not to take the audition “ or do any telecasting ” , so he took the money … but he still try out for it as he wanted to spiel “ the highest spirit level of my intellectual and build my stigma ” . Washington was called back and register with Ellen Pompeo , who according to him made “ the executive decision ” to not have him play Derek as she “ had a black fellow , [ and ] she did n’t feel comfortable ” , append that she tell him so at catering once he was already on the show playing Dr. Preston Burke .
In 2013 , Pompeo talked about this read that Rhimes want to “ put a dark man in the mixture ” and have her persona copulate with Washington ’s , but an mixed couple on the show was“too closemouthed to home ” and she “ did n’t require him ” , or else choosing “ that Dempsey fry ” . On that same conversation at Tavis Smiley ’s podcast , Washington shared that he was n’t well - received onthe set ofGrey ’s Anatomy , excuse that during a table read , Peter Horton ( who channelise the pilot episode ) told him “ I thought we got free of you ” , while Dempsey exclaimed “ what is he doing here ? ” .
2006, 2007 – Isaiah Washington vs Patrick Dempsey
regrettably , that was only the beginning of a series of controversies on the set ofGrey ’s Anatomy , and Isaiah Washington was at the centre of many of them during the first years of the series . In October 2006 , reports began to rise about on - set tension between Washington and Dempsey , which quickly escalated when Washington reportedly used a homophobic blot during an argument with Dempsey ( an incident thatKatherine Heiglinitially downplay as “ a piffling fusillade of testosterone in the room ” ) . It was later reported that the homophobic slur was maneuver at co - star T.R. Knight , and this later on led to Knight publicly come out in January 2007 . Washington apologized in an prescribed argument but controversy was reignited when he commented on the topic during the Golden Globes later that calendar month , where he denied using such run-in , with Heigl tellingAccess Hollywoodthat her co - star “ take to just not speak in public , period ” . That comment from Heigl go on to be a beginning of difference of opinion between her and Washington .
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As for the logical argument between Washington and Dempsey , the former told during an appearance onLarry King Livein 2007 that he did n’t use a homophobic blot in reference to Knight and simply blurt out it out in an unrelated context during an argument provoked by Dempsey , who he felt was n’t treat him correct . Washington added that Dempsey ’s lateness was what trip their fight , and what post Dempsey off was when Washington said he “ did n’t need Ellen ” because “ he can act ” .
2007 – Isaiah Washington Left Grey’s Anatomy
In June 2007 , after all the above argument , ABC settle not to renew Washington ’s contract bridge and so he leftGrey ’s Anatomy . Unlike many other character , Dr. Burke was n’t killed offbut he did leave his mark as one of the most cold - hearted type as he leave Cristina Yang ( Sandra Oh ) on their marriage ceremony solar day and was sent to Switzerland . However , Burke was wreak back in 2014 for Yang ’s last episode , as he offered his former fiancée his place at the Klausman Institute for Medical Research so he could move to Milan with his married woman . Rhimes defended her decisionto bring Burke back explaining that her “ first conclusion and her first responsibility is to the story ” , adding that they all love Washington and that if people do n’t think that the great unwashed can transfer “ over the grade of seven years [ … ] then there really is no futurity for the human race at all ” .
2008 – Katherine Heigl’s Emmy Withdrawal
Grey ’s Anatomyand its mold have won various awards over the days , and in 2007 , Katherine Heigl won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series thanks to her role asIzzie Stevens , but the come after twelvemonth she withdrew herself from the slipstream as she did n’t believe her character ’s storyline was good enough for a nominating address . Although she later on tried to explicate what she really meant with that , Rhimes tell Oprah Winfreythat she was n’t surprised at Heigl ’s mental attitude and “ when people show you who they are , conceive them ” , and that was the beginning of a portion of rumors about what the writers were planning for Izzie Stevens and Heigl ’s on - set behavior .
2009 – T.R. Knight Left Grey’s Anatomy
In 2009 , a character very closely to Meredith left the show in one of the most heartbreaking story : George O’Malley , played by T.R. Knight . In July 2009 , Knight announced his departure fromGrey ’s Anatomy , excuse that the reason behind that determination was a “ gradual crack-up of communicating ” between him and Rhimes , adding that the show ’s Maker was “ concerned ” about him amount out “ so near ” after Washington ’s above - note contention . Rhimes , of course , later traverse this . Knight shared he was n’t comfortable anymore with where George ’s plot line was run , so he asked to be released from his contract . The writers ’ result was to have George jump in front of a bus to keep open a woman ’s life , leave behind him severely deface . After the infirmary ’s stave did everything they could to keep open their friend , George was declared nous all in and he passed away – butGeorge render inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 17as part of Meredith ’s COVID-19 - induced dreams .
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2010 – Katherine Heigl Left Grey’s Anatomy
The nextGrey ’s Anatomyactor to leave the show was Katherine Heigl , who did so in 2010 . After the above - mentioned controversy after her Emmy withdrawal , reports on her being “ difficult to work with ” , and more , Heigl requested to be free from her contract 18 months in the beginning , explain that she wanted to spend more time with her family . The answer for Izzie was to move her out of Seattle to start a new life ( but she air divorce papers toAlex Karev , of course ) , and her arc did n’t come to a right end until Alex ’s did , as he result his partner , Jo , to move to Seattle with Izzie , who had twins , who were also Alex ’s .
2015 – Patrick Dempsey Left Grey’s Anatomy
Fans ofGrey ’s Anatomywere arrive at with another devastating departure when Patrick Dempsey’sDerek Shepherd was toss off off in time of year 11 . On his manner back to DC , Derek got into a car chance event , and after a great deal of complication , he could n’t be lay aside and Meredith decided to murder him from life support . In an consultation withPeoplein 2016 , Dempsey share it had been “ long enough ” and it was metre for him to move on , supply he should have done so “ a couple of years in the first place ” and that he “ stayed a second longer ” than he should have . Dempsey later shared that the main cause for him to decide to leave was that it was too time - consuming , not allowing him to pass clip with his family .
However , in the bookHow to save up a Life : The Inside Story of Grey ’s Anatomy , by Lynette Rice , former executive producer James D. Parriott and Jeannine Renshaw talked about Dempsey ’s on - set behaviour and did n’t paint him in a undecomposed brightness level . Parriott divulge that Dempsey was “ terrorize the set ” , some cast phallus “ had all sort of PTSD with him ” , he had such control and influence on the set that “ he lie with he could stop yield and panic people ” , and he was so done with the show and visibly upset about the “ incommodiousness of coming in every solar day and working ” , which obviously created friction with Rhimes . Still , Dempsey returned inGrey ’s Anatomyseason 17 as one of the peopleMeredith reckon at the beach .
2015 – Ellen Pompeo vs Denzel Washington
In 2015 , Denzel Washington directedGrey ’s Anatomyseason 12 ’s installment “ The Sound of Silence ” , but accord to Ellen Pompeo , it was n’t a pleasant experience . In the debut installment of her podcastTell Me(viaVulture ) , Pompeo opened up about crop with Denzel Washington on the Seth ofGrey ’s Anatomy , call back one scene where she offered guidance to a atomic number 27 - principal . According to Pompeo , the other ’s eccentric had to apologize to Meredith but made the choice to “ speak very softly ” , which did n’t seat well with her as he “ was n’t looking at her in the middle ” . Pompeo hollo at him and told him “ look at me when you apologise . Look at me ” , which was n’t on the script . This head Denzel Washington to remind her that he was the director and to “ not tell him what to do ” , to which she replied “ take heed mrfr , this is my show . This is my Seth . Who are you telling ? ” .
Related : Grey ’s bod : Why Ellen Pompeo Almost Left ( And Why She Stayed )
2015 – Grey’s Anatomy Contract Negotiations
In an consultation withTHRin 2018 , Ellen Pompeo revealed that she reach out to Dempsey to negotiate their contract together , cite to his departure as a “ defining minute , deal - wise ” as he could be ( and ultimately was ) used as leverage against her under the excuse of “ we do n’t call for you , we have Patrick ” . Unfortunately , Dempsey was n’t open nor concerned in negotiate his contract alongside her , so Pompeo continued to oppose for it on her own , eventually becoming the highest - paid actress on television . Pompeo also shared that it was “ a long working relationship and it was a tumultuous end " , and needed some clip off to decompress after Dempsey leave the show .
2018 – Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, & The #MeToo Movement
During the above - bring up conversation with the Tavis Smiley ’s podcast , Isaiah Washington also revealed that Ellen Pompeo took “ hush money ” from unknown parties so she would n’t reveal “ how toxic and nasty Patrick Dempsey really was ” , this as the # MeToo movement started to rise – and after that , Pompeo sign the deal that turned her into the highest - paid actress on television receiver . Of course , Pompeo has n’t remark on this , and unfortunately , controversy might not terminate forGrey ’s Anatomyuntil the show comes to an close , or maybe not even then .
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