ELLEN DEFENDS MCDREAMY!
Patrick Dempsey is under fire but his onscreen lover has got his back
An explosive new book claims that Patrick Dempsey was anything but “dreamy” behind the scenes of Grey’s Anatomy, forcing longtime friend and co-star Ellen Pompeo to take sides.
Author Lynette Rice, whose book How To Save A Life: The Inside Story Of Grey’s Anatomy was released last week, claims 55-year-old Patrick’s shock departure from the show in 2015 – which caused a fierce backlash from fans at the time – was down to “HR issues”.
TERROR ON SET
“It wasn’t sexual in any way,” says executive producer James D Parriott in the book. “He sort of was terrorising the set. Some cast members had all sorts of PTSD with him. He had this hold where he knew he could stop production and scare people. I think he was just done with the show.”
Friends say loyal pal Ellen, 51, is “not happy” about the book’s other bombshell – that she would get angry at Patrick for being lazy.
“Ellen’s so tired of rumours that she had problems with Patrick,” says a friend. “She understands how words can be
twisted, but she’s furious that he’s under attack, when he gave so much for that show. It would be nothing without him and, sure, if he got a bit impatient towards the end, so what? He was nothing but professional, kind and a total sweetheart to her.”
READY TO FIGHT
Friends say Ellen, who refused to answer questions about the blowout on the red carpet at the Emmys last week, is trying to remain neutral, but will issue a statement if she has to. “She won’t sit by and let Patrick’s legacy be ruined by a thoughtless comment in an unauthorised book,” adds the source. “But she has to be careful as it doesn’t take much for everyone to leap to romantic conclusions – as she learned when she posted those pictures of her with Patrick last year.” In November, the actress sent Grey’s fans into a spin that Patrick was the cause of her and husband Chris Ivery’s rumoured marital problems, after she posted a beach selfie with her old onscreen flame.
Ellen admitted in July how much her chemistry with Patrick affected her marriage to Chris, whom she wed in 2007.
“It was really hard for him,” she told Laura Brown on her podcast. “He was like, ‘This is not what I signed up for. You’re kissing a guy.’ He was really a trooper I have to say. [Chris] is my favourite person.”
Friends say the couple, who share children Stella, 12, Sienna, seven, and Eli, four, are on solid ground now.
‘Ellen’s furious... he was a total sweetheart to her’
“That beach photo actually brought a lot of issues with her marriage to the surface,” adds the friend.
“And not kissing Patrick on screen has been a huge help. She and Chris had a great summer together, so she’s comfortable speaking out in Patrick’s defence if she has to.”