Ellen Pompeo Doesn’t Really Care If You Like Grey’s Anatomy

Whether you love Grey’s Anatomy or hate it, Ellen Pompeo doesn’t really care. The actor, who has played Meredith Grey on the hit medical drama for the past 16 years, recently replied to a fan on Twitter who essentially called the latest season of the show garbage. And while most celebrities might be offended by such harsh criticism, Pompeo couldn’t care less. In fact, she finds the negative feedback helpful.

It all started when one offended Twitter user replied to someone who called Season 17 of Grey’s “groundbreaking” and “life changing.” “Seriously though, I think this season has really helped a lot of people,” @cathryn_lee tweeted. “[And] if these beach scenes don’t hit you, you’re not a fan nor human.” In response, @callmebluesky said they must be “an alien” because Season 17 was “dumpster trash.” “I love the show but not this season,” they wrote.

Pompeo, for her part, remained unfazed by the fan’s passionate response to the most recent season. “All good! Seventeen seasons we can’t please everyone all the time,” she replied. “It’s definitely not easy keeping it going and keeping it great… I get it…thanks for checking it out anyway… and thanks for your feedback it matters …sending you love.”

Some of Pompeo’s followers wondered if she was throwing shade, but the actor promised in a follow-up tweet that there were no hard feelings. “It’s Friday night and queen did not come to play,” Twitter user @catethomass wrote. “You tell them sis.” But the 51-year-old star knows how hard it is to stick with a show from start to finish. “No honestly no shade at all,” she responded. “The only show I’ve ever stuck with until the end was The Sopranos.”

In a separate tweet, Pompeo urged her followers to be more open to a variety of different opinions, even the ones they don’t necessarily agree with. “But why is someone saying they didn’t like something bad? It’s literally been on for two decades!! Let her live… there is plenty of sh*t I don’t like,” she wrote. “Not to mention people are pretty much allowed to feel however they want after this really f----- up couple of years we have had.”

Pompeo was referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a major theme throughout the most recent season. In fact, Meredith contracted the virus in the premiere episode and collapsed in the hospital’s parking lot. Then, in some intense dreams caused by the virus, Derek Shepherd (aka, McDreamy) appeared for the first time since 2015. Long story short, Meredith was put on a ventilator and ultimately survived, but fans remained critical of the show’s decision to address coronavirus while we were still battling the pandemic in real life.

In November, showrunner Krista Vernoff explained why COVID-19 was incorporated into the plot. “Healthcare workers are on the frontlines of this crisis living through a war for which they were not trained,” she told The Hollywood reporter. “We saw an opportunity to dramatize and illuminate their plight through the incredibly well-loved and well-known character of Meredith Grey.” In addition to honoring doctors and nurses, Vernoff saw it as an opportunity to encourage people to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines. “The least we can do is wear a mask, socially distance and stay home whenever possible,” she said.

For a while, fans of the series wondered if Season 17 would be the last. However, ABC announced that the beloved series was renewed for another season in May. No further decisions beyond Season 18 have been made, but something tells us that @callmebluesky will be tuning in. After all, if you’ve made it this far, you might as well keep going.