- - Why Katherine Heigl Allegedly Panicked After Discussing 'Grey’s Anatomy' Controversies With Ellen Pompeo

Jane LaCroixDecember 12, 2025 at 12:15 AM

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What was meant to be a thoughtful reunion conversation between Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeoreportedly turned into a moment of panic for Heigl.

During the Thursday, December 11 episode of the Viall Files podcast, Variety Editor-at-Large Kate Aurthur revealed that Heigl grew extremely anxious after taping her 2023 Variety Actors on Actors interview with Pompeo, where the former Grey’s Anatomy stars openly revisited the controversies that surrounded Heigl’s exit from the hit medical drama.

“Heigl really went there and then was in a huge panic afterwards that she’d said too much,” Aurthur claimed. She went on to say that her team had to “talk her down” and reassure the actress that her honesty wouldn’t spark the backlash she once feared.

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"Her manager freaked out. She was maybe not going to release the footage,” Aurthur alleged, adding, “I was out there. She was there crying.” Aurthur recalled telling Heigl that “the world has changed, the world has caught up to you, you were right most of the time” and that audiences finally understood her perspective. “People now understand that,” she remembered saying to her. Authur also recalled Heigl's manager admitting, “you were right” when the episode came out.

Heigl, 47, portrayed Izzie Stevens from the show's 2005 debut until her departure in 2010—a period marked by headlines labeling her “difficult” and “ungrateful” after she criticized aspects of the series and famously withdrew herself from Emmy consideration in 2008.

“I was so naive. I got on my soapbox and I had some things to say,” Heigl said in the 2023 Actors on Actors sit-down. “I felt really strongly… and I didn’t think I was going to get such a strong reaction.” Pompeo, 56, famous for her starring role as Meredith Grey, defended her longtime friend and costar. “You were just a little early,” she joked, noting that social media has since normalized outspoken public commentary.

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And speaking of Grey’s, earlier in November, the internet zeroed in on another former star: Sandra Oh. Swift-eyed viewers on X noticed that the show’s official Instagram account quietly followed Oh for the first time—a tiny digital breadcrumb that sent longtime fans into full detective mode. And earlier this fall, the account shared a cryptic collage from season 10 with the caption, “Thinking about season 10 for one reason in particular.” That season, of course, marked Cristina Yang’s emotional exit.

Speculation spread quickly, but as usual with Grey Sloan Memorial theories, nothing is confirmed. Grey’s is set to return from its mid-season break on Thursday, January 8, so fans will have to wait until then to see if their wishes come true.

This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”