So, Ellen Pompeo—aka the OG Scrub Queen, Meredith Grey herself—is still kinda-sorta-maybe on Grey’s Anatomy, and she just explained why she hasn’t ghosted the show for good.
ICYMI, Ellen low-key dipped out of her full-time role in Season 19 (a moment of silence for the hospital drama we didn’t know we’d miss so much). And although the show has been renewed for season TWENTY-TWO—yes, you read that right, it’s legally old enough to drink now—Ellen is still popping in like your cool aunt who only shows up for the drama and the dessert.
When chatting with El País (because duh, international queen), Ellen gave us the scoop on why she hasn’t hit the full exit door. And honestly? It’s kind of iconic.
“That would make no sense, emotionally or financially,” she said. “The show was streamed more than a billion times in 2024. More than a BILLION times.”
Billion, with a “B”! That’s more than most people say “I’ll start eating healthy on Monday.”
She went on to basically say: “Look, I built this Grey’s empire with my bare hands, and you think I’m gonna just walk away while everyone else is out here cashing checks using my face and voice? Absolutely not, babes.”
“If I were to walk away completely,” Ellen continued, “everybody gets to make money from my hard work for 20 years and I wouldn’t make any money. Make it make sense.”
Honestly, girl math. We respect it.
She also gave a shoutout to the emotional side of it all, because Grey’s Anatomy is more than just dramatic surgeries and sexy stairwell arguments—it’s a feeling. She said she’s still got love for the fans and wants to show some gratitude. (Awww, we see you, Queen of Consistency.)
Now, if you’re wondering why she suddenly popped up in a new show called Good American Family (which kinda sounds like a cereal brand, but okay), she says don’t get it twisted.
“Well, this is a limited series,” she clarified. “So I won’t appear as this character again.”
Translation: One and done, people. Don’t expect her to build another hospital.
She was just looking to do something not Grey’s-related. Something with zero scalpels, zero love triangles, and probably a lot more cozy cardigans.
And we love that for her.
