Ellen Pompeo Defends Her Comment About Grey’s Anatomy Being A “Toxic Work Environment” For 10 Years
Published on June 10, 2019.Press Association
Ellen Pompeo is clarifying some recent candid comments he made about almost quitting Grey’s Anatomy years ago.
During a recent appearance on Variety’s Actors on Actors segment, Pompeo sat down with fellow actress Taraji P. Henson where she said that there was a “really toxic work environment” during the first 10 years of working on Grey’s Anatomy, and it has become better since certain people have been removed or left.
After a lot of backlash and response, Pompeo ended up taking to her Twitter to share a three part clarification to defend her comments. “Hey! Anyone having feelings over Variety piece. It’s not worth getting yourself upset over not singling anyone out..,” her first tweet read. “As a show we all had a part to play in the environment me included..as many workplaces do.. We changed that story. That’s the story we all have the power to change!”
She continued, “None of my comments in print are ever meant to shade anyone. That’s so not productive. My words about my journey are always meant to inspire and reflect. My shade is very obvious when I’m not subtle about it you all should know that!!”
She also added, “I’m aware how much love there is for this show and these characters…no one has more love than me..I’ve dedicated half my life to it. The show has been a blessing for us all in different ways. The negative vibes…not healthy….and ummmm a doctah.”
When a follower commented, “Its sad you have to ‘explain’ yourself,” the actress responded, “I don’t have to explain.. I choose to…because I think people making themselves upset over assumptions is not good for them. Words matter and it’s important to not make judgements about what you ‘think’ someone means.”
In the segment, Pompeo explained she decided not to leave because she needed to provide for her family and realized she could bargain for so much more. “After Season 10, we had some big shifts in front of the camera, behind the camera,” Pompeo said before referring to the exit of Patrick Dempsey as one of the big shifts. “It became my goal to have an experience there that I could be happy and proud about, because we had so much turmoil for 10 years. My mission became, this can’t be fantastic to the public and a disaster behind the scenes. Shonda Rhimes and I decided to rewrite the ending of this story. That’s what’s kept me. Patrick Dempsey left the show in Season 11, and the studio and network believed the show could not go on without the male lead. So I had a mission to prove that it could. I was on a double mission.”