Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo set the record straight on reason why Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew suddenly left show

As Grey's Anatomy cast members are spilling the beans on their sudden exits, leading lady Ellen Pompeo dispelled a rumour about the show.

Now in its 21st season, ABC’s hit medical drama has seen so many different scrubs walk the corridors of the Grey Sloane Memorial, formerly Seattle Grace Hospital.

With so many instalments, it's only natural that fans had to say goodbye to a few doctors and some civilians along the road.

Sure, some exits felt more abrupt than others — what ever happened to Brooke Smith's Dr Erica Hahn after she walked to her car? — but, all in all, it's all part of the long-running TV game.

Throughout the years, Grey's Anatomy has even welcomed back a few stars who reappeared on our screens after seemingly leaving Seattle for good.

However, some recent comments made by Sarah Drew, who portrayed Dr April Kepner for nine years, sparked a renewed interest in what's been going on behind the scenes.

Drew and Dr Arizona Robbins star Jessica Capshaw left the show at the end of season 14. Back then, there were rumours their exits were connected to main star Pompeo taking a bigger paycheck of $20 million.

Meredith, together with Chandra Wilson's Dr Miranda Bailey and James Pickens Jr's Dr Richard Webber, is the longest-running Grey's Anatomy character. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

At the time, the Meredith Grey star firmly denied her salary had anything to do with Drew and Capshaw bowing out.

"It's absolutely not true," she told People in 2018. "I mean, I'm not involved in these kind of decisions. However, there are a few problems that you encounter doing a show for 14 seasons. One of them is that writers have a really hard time creatively, thinking up new stories for all these characters. It's always sad when we lose people, for whatever reason.

"I think that it's important for us to not pit women against each other and to really dispel the notion that women are always victims," she continued.

"We're not enemies, we do lift each other up and support each other, and we're not victims. We're very strong, and we're capable of many, many things."

Earlier this month, Drew appeared on the Call It What It Is podcast, hosted by current Grey’s star Camilla Luddington together with Capshaw. On the episode, Drew slammed her and Capshaw’s exits saying they were ‘unceremoniously’ let go.

Both Sarah Drew and Jessica Capshaw left Grey's Anatomy at the end of season 14, but reprised their roles for guest appearances. (Twitter/@sarahdrew)

"We were unceremoniously let go in a way that felt mean and unjust, and, because of that, the outpouring of love was so enormous it was like you were sitting there watching people [eulogise you]," Drew said.

"I have no attachment to [the show] at all. I had zero anxiety [going back because] I don't need anything from anyone on that set anymore."

Drew reprised the role of April for two guest appearances in season 17 and 18, while Capshaw returned as Arizona on season 20.

Grey's Anatomy airs on ABC in the US. In the UK, the show streams on Disney+.