Katherine Heigl Left 'Grey's Anatomy' Over 'Hurt Feelings' & Money, Says Ellen Pompeo

Courtesy of ABC (2)

For the first time, Katherine’s former co-star offers her take on ‘Izzie’s’ infamous exit.

It’s been more than three years since Katherine Heigl scrubbed in on Grey’s Anatomy – her final episode aired Jan. 21, 2010 — but her departure remains a touchy subject. In a new interview with the New York Post, show star Ellen Pompeo gets very candid about the reasons behind Katherine’s exit, which she attributes to “hurt feelings, combined with instant success and huge paychecks started things spinning out of control.”

“When Katie left, it was tough,” Ellen continues. “You could understand why she wanted to go — when you’re offered $12 million a movie and you’re only 26. But Katie’s problem is that she should not have renewed her contract. She re-upped, took a big raise and then tried to get off the show. And then her movie career did not take off.”

Perhaps Katherine should have gone the route of Sandra Oh, who announced that the current season of Grey’s Anatomy will be her last, giving fans — not to mention the writers — an entire year to brace for her absence.

“The crazier things got, as I watched all the tumult with Isaiah and then the Katie thing, I started to focus on the work,” Ellen says, also referring to when former co-star Isaiah Washington was fired for reportedly calling co-star T.R. Knight a homophobic slur. “Maybe it is my Boston, blue-collar upbringing. I just tried to not pay attention to all the noise around me.”

Is Ellen Pompeo Leaving ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

Don’t fret, fans! Ellen says she sees no reason why Grey’s Anatomy should lose its titular doc. Ever.

“Actors always think the grass is greener somewhere else; I didn’t want to do that,” she says. “I have an amazing life. I have a house five minutes from the studio, I have a house in the Hamptons, a house in Malibu, a beautiful daughter whom I see every night — and it’s all because I didn’t leave Grey’s Anatomy.”

I definitely didn’t expect so much honesty from Ellen, but I love it! (Also, I just became insanely jealous of her life.)

WATCH: Izzie’s Final Scene On ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

HollywoodLifers, what’s your take on Ellen’s new interview? And do you miss Izzie on Grey’s? Drop a comment with your thoughts below!

— Andy Swift
Follow @AndySwift

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My favorite characters were lLexie and Mark,so ma when they died

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I liked Izzie, but Katharine Heigl hurt both the show and the character with her contentious departure. She’s the Chrissie Snow of Grey’s Anatomy. I have no desire to see her come back.

I really miss Izzie,she was one of my favorite characters.I think they should bring her back .I love the realationship between Alex and Izzie.I also love Katherine Heigl’s character as Izzie Stevens.I would really like her to vome back to Grey’s Anatomy

Yes, very much

I love Katherine Heigl. I only started watching Grey’s Anatomy this summer and am only on Season 5, so Izzie is still a character on the show. I also love Ellen Pompeo, and I think she’s a very true person. I disagree that Pompeo was “sour” in this interview, it’s just honesty. Although, it seems odd to say she left because of “hurt feelings…” Heigl was also quite young (being in her twenties) when casting in this show so I don’t know how much Heigl wanted in her Hollywood career. She is very successful now, I think, and able to balance her films and her personal life.
So do I miss Heigl on the show? Should she return? Well since I’m only on Season 5, I don’t miss Heigl because she’s still presently on the show. I will miss her because I love her fun, perky personality (she and George)! I don’t think Heigl she return permanently, but as a guest star would be fun!
Like I said, going against all the other comments, I love Heigl–the show, her films, just everything. She’s one of my favorite well-respected actresses and I totally support her in whatever happens in her career!

I didn’t care for Izzy’s personality . And Katherine Heigls voice make it worse . She became annoying .

ALEX AND IZZIE BELONG TOGETHER!!! Bring back Izzie.

Heigl has been in GA for a long time and her time ran out. Ellen said that she left because of money and hurt feelings. People who worked with Heigl have said that she was a drama queen and was demanding, she shouldn’t come back to GA

I love izzy I thought she did a good job and I hope she comes back.She was all good spirited and made the show better.

Heigl has been around for a long time. I never liked her character nor the actress. It always appeared to me, that she was difficult to work with. And her now career has not gone anywhere. Hope she does NOT return to Grey’s Anatomy.

I totally agree w/ u !! Heigl really sucks !!

Ashle you are correct. I agree with you, and, Alex is already happy with Jo. So why should Izzie come again ? She doesn’t need to. The guy she left is already happy with someone else. So why come back ?

I love Grey’s like so many others I just get so attached to these actors and it just is like a real death here when they die on show or leave…………I hate when that happens……….love love love you all and the show keep it coming….please…..God Bless you all………….

I can tell that when Izzie told Meredith that she could work anywhere, that that was actually Katherine telling Ellen that she could work anywhere

I miss Dr Stevens on the show she was awesome. I think theirs a certain way to handle yourself when it comes to your career the things you do leave a lasting impression and Katherine did not handle leaving Grey’s Anatomy in a professional manner. The show is not the same without her and George it decently changed the dynanic. No the less her acting career did well but I haven’t seen her in a movie in a few years. She has to be gratefull to the show for giving her that platform.

Heigl already explained she wanted to leave to do movies and to spend more time with her family when she left. Nothing new. As for Pompeo – who is she to judge if her career took off or not. Heigl was if I recall in the top 10 highest paid female movie stars at least two years in a row according to Forbes. She wouldnt have made that on Greys. Also Pompeo would have never had a movie career anyway – seem like a bit of sour grapes to me.

@Alan, I read in Forbes that Katherine has had several duds. The only successful movies she is able to list are “The Ugly Truth”, “27 Dresses”, and “Knocked Up.” I was surprised to see “Life As We Know It” not listed because I loved that movie. And so that you know that I’m not being petty or taking sides–I am a Katherine Heigl fan. I own all four of those movies along with Killers. Katherine is realizing that the demand for her is decreasing which is why she has told Shonda Rhimes that she would like to come back to Grey’s; however, Shonda said that she did not like the way Katherine departed and will not rewrite her into any of Grey’s scripts. I don’t think Ellen is sour, I think Katherine had a bad leave that no one appreciated. Ellen seems to be very happy with her life. She may not have as much money as Katherine but she is consistently working, and doing so on a show that has been extremely successful for 10 years. Additionally, she is the highest paid TV actress right now. She makes $10 million a season (or $350,000 per episode + millions in syndication.) She actually may be doing financially better than Katherine. Again, I like them both & I wish them both much success. I just don’t see any jealousy on Ellen’s part. She was just being honest.