Connect with us

Politics

Grey’s Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey wades in on show’s ‘toxic culture’ row after explosive Ellen Pompeo claims

GREY’S Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey has waded in on the show’s ‘toxic culture’ row after explosive Ellen Pompeo claims.

Patrick, 55, played Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd in the hit ABC medical drama from its beginning in 2005 until 2015.

Alamy

Patrick Dempsey has waded into the Grey’s Anatomy ‘toxic culture’ row[/caption]

Derek was married to the titular Meredith Grey – played by Ellen – in the later seasons before his departure, and he has now addressed her previous claims that there had been a ‘toxic’ environment behind-the-scenes in the show’s early years.

Speaking to The Independent, Patrick said diplomatically: “I think any time where you have an environment where you’re working 17-hour days, six days a week, it’s very hard to keep that a healthy environment.”

His comments come after Ellen, 51, claimed in a 2019 interview with Variety’s Actors on Actors series: “After Season 10, we had some big shifts in front of the camera, behind the camera.

“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.

Handout

Patrick played Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd from 2005 until 2015[/caption]

Getty Images

In 2019 his former co-star Ellen Pompeo there had been lots of ‘turmoil’ in the first 10 years of the show[/caption]

“My mission became, this can’t be fantastic to the public and a disaster behind the scenes.”

Patrick added to The Independent that Ellen’s aim was already taking effect by the time he left in 2015, saying: “I noticed things shift in the leadership of the day-to-day operations.

“There’s more equality within the crew and within the dynamic. People have grown up, changed and learnt, and come out the other side. That’s what life is about.”

Meanwhile Grey’s fans have been left beyond excited by the fact Patrick is returning to the show in series 17.


Rex Features

Patrick spoke about his return to the show in season 17 on today’s This Morning[/caption]

Speaking on today’s This Morning, Patrick revealed: “Well, he comes back and reunites with Meredith in a very interesting way.” 

Meanwhile he told The Independent of his return: “It was really a special experience for all of us.

“We all cried and we all had a lot of movement emotionally. It was very healing.”

Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC in the US, and on Sky Witness and NOW TV in the UK.