‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Ellen Pompeo Wants Show to Portray Social Issues ‘More Subtly and Over Time’

thewrap.com:

latest episode of her “Tell Me” podcast, the actress said she wished “Grey’s Anatomy” would be more nuanced and dedicated to the plot lines regarding weighty social topics. “I think if I had any desire honestly it would be to be less, sort of, preachy in one episode about certain things,” Pompeo said in response to a fan question. “It’s like, we do one episode about, let’s see … Asian hate crimes is one that we did this past season that was really moving.

I think I’d like to see things happen a little more subtly and over time. You know, consistently and less, sort of, hit you over the head for just one hour, and then we never talk about it again.

I wish we could touch on these social issues that are important and relevant and have them be threads throughout.”Yesterday it was announced that Pompeo will not be as involved in “Grey’s Anatomy” for its upcoming 19th season, scaling back her role and appearing in only eight of the installment’s episodes.

The move is in line with her character’s storylines throughout the past seasons: In Season 17, Meredith was in a medically induced coma after contracting COVID-19, while Season 18 saw her studying Parkinson’s disease in Minnesota.