Ellen Pompeo claimed that she was "very opposed to" a recent Lena Waithe storyline on Grey's Anatomy.
Ellen Pompeo was strongly opposed to a recent Grey’s Anatomy storyline involving Lena Waithe’s character, Dr. Evynn Moore. In the episode, Evynn deceived Meredith Grey about her wife’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis to secure a life-saving kidney transplant. Pompeo felt that Meredith’s reaction—reporting Evynn to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)—was completely out of character.
“The Meredith Grey that I’ve created would have always been like, ‘I’m pissed that you lied, [but] let’s figure out how to game the system together to get you this f--king liver,” Pompeo explained in an article published April 29. “F--k the system. The system is broken.’”
Pompeo argued that Meredith has spent 20 years defying the system to help patients, even committing insurance fraud in season 16 to save a young girl with cancer. She believed that Meredith would have found a way to work around the system rather than turning Evynn in. However, Lena Waithe convinced Pompeo that Meredith’s decision was influenced by her relationship with transplant surgeon Dr. Nick Marsh.
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Pompeo admitted she had an emotional outburst upon learning about the storyline but ultimately accepted it. She emphasized her commitment to preserving Shonda Rhimes’ legacy and ensuring the show remains true to its original vision.
But when reflecting on the scenario again, Pompeo still wasn’t convinced of her character's choice.
Love also doesn’t have anything to do with it, either. In season seven, Meredith sabotages an Alzheimer’s trial being run by her husband Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) in order to ensure that the wife of their mentor Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) receives medicine for the neurodegenerative disease as opposed to a placebo.
“I see my job as trying to keep Shonda Rhimes’ legacy as good and solid as we can,” Pompeo added, “and the minute you stop caring or phoning it in or getting lazy, we’re not really doing what we’ve been paid to do.”
Absolutely! Grey’s Anatomy has consistently pushed boundaries, delivering compelling storytelling and unforgettable moments. Ellen Pompeo’s dedication to keeping Meredith Grey’s character true to her rebellious nature is a testament to why the show continues to resonate with fans after 21 seasons. From intense medical cases to emotional character arcs, the series remains as engaging as ever.
