As a professional celebrity interviewer, I’ve always kept my cool around A-list stars, never let myself go gaga in front of them. I don’t squeal when they enter the room or profess all my love for them. And I never, ever ask them for a photo.
Well, except once.
If you know me, you know that I am a Grey’s Anatomy superfan. I cover the show frequently for Shondaland.com and have faithfully watched it every Thursday night since 2005 (yes, even the recent seasons - trust me, they’re solid!). Over the years, I’ve gotten to interview many of the show’s stars, from Eric Dane (McSteamy) to Chandra Wilson (Bailey).
But it was only when I met Ellen Pompeo - aka Meredith freakin’ Grey herself - that the inner fangirl in me let loose.
Let me set the scene: It was 2018, and I was at an event for a skincare line for which Ellen was the spokeswoman. I’d been instructed to keep the focus of the interview on the brand, but had gotten the OK to slip one or two Grey’s questions if if I wanted. Um, did I want to? DOES MCDREAMY HAVE GOOD HAIR ?!
Keep in mind, this was happening right Ellen revealed she was earning over $20 mil (!) a year for Grey’s - a fact that many critics (wrongly) quoted as a reason for two of her castmates’ departures from the show. In the lobby, I read over my Qs with shaking hands, terrified of embarrassing myself in front of the legend herself. Meanwhile, a fellow reporter asked me, “who does Ellen play on Grey’s Anatomy?”
When it was my turn, I walked into the room and was immediately greeted with a hug from Ellen, during which I might’ve actually floated away. I did my best to keep my composure as we chatted about the skincare line and her beauty routine, until it was time for me to ask about Grey’s.
Not wanting to upset her (or her publicist), I kept my question simple, asking Ellen how she felt about her former co-stars leaving the show. I figured she’d just tell me she wished them well; certainly, she wouldn’t bring up the hate she was getting for her salary. But as we all know today, Ellen Pompeo will say whatever the hell she wants, whenever she wants.
And guys, she went off.
“I felt attacked right away,” she began, calling the social media bullying "deplorable and so disgusting.” As she criticized Grey’s “fans” for going after her (despite her salary not being the reason the others were fired), her passion and volume grew to a point where she was kind of yelling at me, but in, like, a hot “mother” way.
“You’re gonna say horrible things to me? Tell me to go kill myself? Shame on you, you hypocrite little bratty 13-year-old,” Ellen shouted. “If you’re gonna jump into this arena, I don’t care how old you are. Be ready for what’s gonna come back at you. The same way I’ll be ready for what comes back at me if I say something... If you dish it, you better be able to take it."
It was… a lot. But also kind of amazing? My 24-year-old self was awed by this loud, confident woman who clearly didn’t give a shit what anyone else thought.
In that way, I remember thinking, she was just like Meredith Grey.
So I did what I never do: I told her I loved her, and asked for a photo. She was so hyped that I was terrified she’d say no or even criticize me for asking, but instead, that wonderful lady put an arm around me and smiled big. And while I have many regrets about the outfit I wore that day (basically pajamas?!), I will never regret meeting, and being yelled at, by Ellen Pompeo.
Pop culture recs of the week:
If you still haven’t watched Adolescence on Netflix, hoooly crap, get on it - it’s dark as anything but so good and important. Speaking of Netflix, Kurt and I have also been bingeing Evil, which ended last year, I believe? It’s such a fun and weird show that feels like Buffy meets The X-Files. Highly recommend, mostly so I can talk to more people about how Kristin affords that house?!
Other stuff: Mickey 17 (space-set sci-fi movie starring RPatz) is good, not great. I’ll Come to You (novel by Rebecca Kauffman about a family over a year) is excellent, especially if you want a trip back to ‘95.
Shopping exclusive:
I am *obsessed* with the brand Cozy Earth (as is Oprah… we have good taste). I own approximately one billion of their sheets, towels, blankets, sweaters, socks… the list goes on. And because I want you also to experience the glory, here’s an exclusive heads’ up: From 4/11 to 5/11, CE is offering 30 percent off sitewide, on literally all products. Pencil it into your sched!
Puzzle time:
This week’s puzzle is, fittingly, all about the word grey. And also gray. Go with me here.
Download the PDF to solve it - answers on the second page!
Friday Scooplet:
In this section, I’ll be answering your most burning Qs, aka anything you want to know about celebs, Hollywood, media, publishing, crosswords, ice cream - it’s all fair game. Got a Q? Let me know, and I’ll give you the Scoop next week.
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