Grey’s Anatomy star Sarah Drew speaks out on ‘unjust’ exit from show as she makes admission about script
Grey’s Anatomy star Sarah Drew has spoken out about how it felt to be 'let go' from the hit show after nine seasons.
The 44-year-old actress starred as April Kepner on the famous ABC medical drama for nine seasons before she was let go as a main cast member in 2018.
At the time, Drew shared a statement with fans following her exit from Grey's.
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Taking on X, she wrote: "Hey guys. Thank you for all of the love. I know you're
sad. I'm sad too.
"I haven't really had the time to process this information. I've been with it for less than 48 hours, so I'm not ready to say my thank yous and give an all encompassing statement about my nine years here. That will come later."
"For now, I'd like to say: I love you, and I love April, and her story isn't over yet," she assured.
"And the really good news (for me, at least) is that I'm here on set shadowing one of my favourite people, Kevin McKidd, with my beloved Grey's family all this week and next, so I get to process all of my feelings surrounded by the community that has nourished and nurtured me for almost a decade."
Drew rounded off the post adding: "For that, I am so grateful. Much love, Sarah."
Since then, she's opened up about her departure in a recent interview on the Call It What It Is podcast.
Slamming her departure as 'mean' and 'unjust', the actress claimed: "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, who later made a return to the programme for two guest appearances in both season 17 and 18, continued: "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."
Speaking about her former employers, she added: "They’re not responsible for my livelihood anymore.
"They’re not responsible for my success or my joy … I’m like, 'Hey! This is a fun spot to come visit'."
Not only did Drew open up about her exit but she also revealed some little-known details about her character's storyline.
She said that April was set to have a one-night stand with Dr Mark Sloan, played by Eric Dane.
"Before they made my character love Jesus and [be] a virgin … There’s a scene where Sloan and Reed (Nora Zehetner) have sex, a random one-night stand.
"That was supposed to be me originally. It was supposed to be April," Drew claimed.
Discussing her character some more, she added: "April was supposed to have some random one-off with Sloan and it was in the original production draft [of the script], and then they changed it.
"I didn’t have anything to do with it... They changed their mind."
Topics: Grey's Anatomy, TV And Film, Celebrity
Rhiannon Ingle