Ellen Pompeo Leaving Grey's Anatomy Feels "Ungrateful" to Some Fans
The winter return of Grey's Anatomy will see its titular character, Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, leave.
As Pompeo played a central role in the hit medical drama, this caused a wave of mixed reactions among the fans of the show. Some were understandably saddened, while others found her departure borderline "ungrateful."
Ellen Pompeo played an essential lead character in Grey's Anatomy, where she appeared in over 400 episodes during her iconic 19-season run. Thanks to her portrayal, she gained worldwide recognition and became one of the most renowned television actresses. So, when it was announced that she'll be saying goodbye to the long-running drama on the 23rd of February in 2023, fans' responses were polarizing.
As expected, many fans were shocked and disheartened over the news but supported her with kindness and sent her well wishes ahead of the new chapter in her life. However, some fans didn't take the news well, stating that her leaving the show felt "ungrateful" to them.
The reason behind this is their speculation that some actors, such as Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew, were let go just to keep Pompeo on, as she wanted a pay rise.
They also express their frustration, saying it was all for nothing because she left the show regardless. Pompeo herself has denied those claims, stating that under no circumstances is her pay rise responsible for the show's lineup.
Other fans, on the other hand, argue that Pompeo's salary had nothing to do with other actors being terminated and budgetary constraints shouldn't have been a problem, either. In fact, some think it was due to the head writers and executive producers of the hit show not wanting to write for those actors and having their favorites, both on and off the screen.
They also support her decision to leave, regardless of the circumstances, as she has been on the show for 17 years and is allowed to do what she needs for her own happiness.
Meredith was one of the final remaining core characters and her importance to the series is undeniable, as she played a huge part in the show's success. Of course, that's not to say it's fair for other actors to make less or be fired to accommodate her or any other actor on the show. However, it's impossible to say what happened behind closed doors as there are a lot of moving parts to this that we'll never know about.