She’s played the title role on Grey’s Anatomy for 15 years.
Ellen Pompeo came to the defense of her long-running medical drama on Friday after fans were vocally disappointed about the resolution of her former co-star Justin Chambers’ exit from the show.
The 50-year-old actress shared a montage of her most memorable scenes with Justin on Instagram while saluting the show’s writers for giving Justin’s character ‘the best send off.’
Standing strong: Ellen Pompeo, 50, came to the defense of Grey’s Anatomy Friday on Instagram after the show was lambasted for the way it wrote out longtime star Justin Chambers, 49; pictured in October
Ellen’s video went all the way back to the early days of Grey’s Anatomy and featured short cameos from Sandra Oh and T. R. Knight.
But the focus was on the sometimes rocky and often flirtatious bond between their characters Meredith Grey and Alex Karev.
‘Thank you for making it fun,’ a joyous Meredith says just before the video fades to black.
She opened her lengthy caption with praise for the popular show and its viewers.
Giving thanks: Ellen shared a long caption praising the writers and director, as well as the original showrunner Shonda Rhimes
Tearjerker: She also shared a touching montage of scenes between her and Justin
Old school: The clips went all the way back to the early days of Grey’s Anatomy and featured short cameos from former stars Sandra Oh and T. R. Knight
‘Thank you for making it fun’: A joyous Meredith gives thanks just before the video fades to black, which serves as a fond farewell to Chambers and his character Alex Karev
‘Hi here I go again … Thank YOU! You are truly the best most passionate most loyal fans anyone could ever ask for. Because of you we got to make great tv… because of you we got to make television history!’ she said.
Pompeo also seemed to defend the lack of wish fulfillment in the end of Chambers’ time on the show.
‘I say often life is hard and thank God it is because like I tell my kids… it shows us what we are made …of how strong we really are and let’s face it… without the lows there would be no dancing it out or celebrating this incredible experience we call life.’
Ellen praised her fellow cast member and Executive Producer Debbie Allen, who directed the episode from March 5, as well as the writers and the show’s creator and former showrunner Shonda Rhimes.
Running defense: Ellen praised the lack of a wish fulfillment ending; still from Grey’s Anatomy
Shocking: Alex revealed in the episode via four letters that he had moved back in with his ex-wife Izzie, played by Katherine Heigl. She had given birth to his twin sons via in vitro fertilization after their divorce; still from Grey’s Anatomy
The polarizing episode, titled Leave A Light On, didn’t feature a physical return for Justin, though he did record a voiceover cameo of himself reading four letters sent to his wife Jo (Camilla Luddington), Meredith, Richard (James Pickens Jr.) and Miranda (Chandra Wilson).
He shocked loyal fans by revealing that he had left Seattle and had moved in with his ex-wife Izzie, originally played by Katherine Heigl, who departed after season six.
During her run, Izzie had frozen some of Alex’s sperm while she was battling cancer.
After overcoming her illness and leaving Seattle, she had two twins from Alex’s sperm who are now five.
Personal touch: Alex revealed the difficulty news to his best friend Meredith in her own letter
Splitsville: The character also told his wife Jo (Camilla Luddington) that he would divorce her on favorable terms
He explained in the letters that he was now living with Izzie and their two children, while offering favorable divorce terms to his wife and a heartfelt farewell to his great friend Meredith.
Chambers made the surprise announcement that he was leaving the show in January to work on his mental health.
‘For me personally for Karev to go back to the beginning…. was the best possible storyline. It pays homage to those incredible first years and the incredible cast …that created a foundation so strong that the show is still standing. So let’s not be sad,’ Ellen wrote.
Though she had a positive reaction, Grey’s Anatomy fans weren’t as happy about Alex’s sudden reunion with Izzie, nor the way he left his wife and best friend without any notice.
Some fans simply wished that Grey’s Anatomy would have followed tradition and killed Justin’s character off in a senseless and surprising fashion.
One fan on Twitter simply planned to ‘forget I ever saw this episode and just tell myself that Alex died.’
Contrast: Though she had a positive reaction, Grey’s Anatomy fans weren’t as happy about Alex’s sudden reunion with Izzie, nor the way he left his wife and best friend without any notice
Off him: Some fans simply wished that Grey’s Anatomy would have followed tradition and killed Justin’s character off in a senseless and surprising fashion
He deserved better: Multiple social media reactions said that the show had betrayed Alex’s character
Ignoring it: One fan on Twitter simply planned to ‘forget I ever saw this episode and just tell myself that Alex died’