Ellen Pompeo Spills on the Grey’s Anatomy Sex Scene That Was a Literal ‘Nightmare’

March 19, 2025

If you thought watching Meredith and George’s awkward AF hookup in Grey’s Anatomy was painful, just know—it was even worse for Ellen Pompeo and T.R. Knight.

The former Grey’s star pulled up to the Call Her Daddy podcast and did not hold back about the most uncomfortable scene she ever filmed. Spoiler: it’s that scene from Season 2, Episode 19, where Meredith (Ellen) rebounds with George (T.R.), despite him being totally in love with her for years. Turns out, it wasn’t just cringe for viewers—it was pure torture for the actors too.

‘We Were Both Crying’

Ellen kept it real with host Alex Cooper, revealing that she and T.R. were literally in tears filming the scene.

“T.R. and I are such good friends. And we had to do a love scene, and we were both crying. We cried. We cried,” she said.

And if that wasn’t bad enough? They had to do it twice.

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“The scene was so uncomfortable and awkward, and he didn’t wanna do it. I didn’t wanna do it,” she continued. “And then the network said there was too much thrusting—like, excuse me?? In your worst nightmare, to have to do it one time, we had to re-shoot that st.**”

She’s Never Even Watched It

Yeah, you’re not alone if you fast-forwarded through that mess. Ellen confessed she’s never watched the final cut and has no clue how it was edited. But one thing’s for sure: those were real tears.

“I’ve never seen it, but I don’t know how it was shot or covered or what the end, how it was edited, but I’m full-on in tears, the whole entire scene,” she admitted.

And honestly? Same.

George’s Death Still Hurts

Beyond that rough scene, Ellen also spilled on the hardest moment of her Grey’s run: George’s death.

If you somehow blocked it from memory (understandable), George tragically dies in Season 5 after getting hit by a bus while saving a woman. Since his injuries are so severe, no one even recognizes him—until he traces “007” on Meredith’s hand. (BRB, sobbing.)

That moment? Ellen says it hit the hardest.

So, yeah. If you ever felt emotionally wrecked by Grey’s Anatomy, just know the cast was going through it too. Justice for George, and justice for Ellen and T.R. having to endure that scene TWICE.

Written by: MJ