Featured Image Credit: ABC
Topics: Grey's Anatomy, TV And Film, Celebrity
Rhianna Benson
In the 19 years since it first landed on our TV screens (I know, feel old yet?), fans of Grey's Anatomy have observed countless celebrity guest stars joining the already impressive list of much-loved central characters.
As quickly as they join the cast, however, many actors that take a job at Seattle Grace Hospital seem to disappear again within a matter of weeks, leaving co-stars and fans forced to wish them a tearful goodbye - often because they're unexpectedly killed off!
And on that note, one character exit which many fans seem to agree hit them the hardest in the feels, was that of paediatric surgeon Dr Alex Karev, who'd been on the show for 16 seasons before leaving in 2020 in a shock plot twist.
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It wasn't just the character's unexpected departure that devastated fans, however.
It was the controversial nature of actor Justin Chambers' 'quit' the medical drama, and many fans have only recently discovered that the on-screen star has his own very interesting perspective on what led to his exit.
For those who need a reminder of why exactly fans were forced to bid adieu to Dr Karev, allow us to fill you in.
When he first emerged as a prominent character in Grey's Anatomy, Dr Alex proved to be a rather contentious soul with a pretty sleazy reputation with the lady folk.
In particularly, his early days were plagued with criticism from fans for the way he treated initial love interest Dr Izzie Stevens (played by Katherine Heigl).
The duo enjoyed an on-again off-again romance for several seasons until Izzie was diagnosed with a brain tumour and told she didn't have long left.
As a result, the pair got married, only for Izzie to make a full recover and the duo to subsequently divorce.
By the time we reached series 10, Dr Karev had set his sights on intern Jo Wilson, with whom he later tied the knot, winning over even his most hard-faced of fans and seeming to enjoy a happy marriage.
You can only imagine viewers' sheer confusion, therefore, when Izzie was reintroduced to the show out of the blue in the 16th season when Dr Karev called to see if she'd be attending Meredith's trial, only to hear the voices of kids in the background.
Within the space of one episode, Dr Karev realised that the youngsters were his own kids - being that Izzie used frozen embryos created during her cancer treatment to become pregnant - and he suddenly ditched Jo to be with her, quitting the show in the meantime.
Apparently, however, there was a good reason as to why Dr Karev's departure storyline seemed to many fans to have been rushed, but it isn't as dramatic as we might have expected.
Speaking to Deadline back in 2020, actor Justin admitted: "There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years.
"For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices."
He continued: "And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time."
Don't suppose we can really argue with that!