You'll Never Guess Which ‘Grey's‘ Sex Scene Ellen Pompeo Had to Reshoot

united states march 02: greys anatomy elevator love letter tensions are running high at seattle grace with all eyes on derek as he is set to perform his first surgery after his breakdown; attention is also set on izzie, whose medical condition requires her to undergo a difficult surgery; and owen has another ptsd episode that injures cristina and traumatizes both of them, throwing the future of their relationship into question, on greys anatomy, thursday, march 26 (9:00 10:02 p.m., et) on the disney general entertainment content via getty images television network. (photo by scott garfield/disney general entertainment content via getty images)
Ellen Pompeo Recalls Sex Scene with T.R. Knight Scott Garfield/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

After 20 seasons of Grey's Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo has filmed a lot of sex scenes for the ABC medical drama. Her onscreen lovers have included Patrick Dempsey, Giacomo Gianniotti, and Scott Speedman, but there's one that stands out as the most awkward of all time: T.R. Knight. In fact, Ellen's Grey's Anatomy sex scene with T.R. wasn't just so awkward it had her in tears, it also had to be reshot, extending the torture even more.

Fans of Grey's will remember the love scene in question took place way back in season 2, when Meredith (Ellen) and George (T.R.) fell into bed together for a painfully awkward one night stand. “T.R. and I are such good friends, and we had to do a love scene. We were both crying. We cried,” Ellen revealed during a recent appearance on Call Her Daddy to promote her new show, Good American Family. “The scene was so uncomfortable and awkward. He didn't want to do that. I didn't wanna do it, and when we filmed it, it was so bad.”

united states august 02: greys anatomy i am a tree cristina meets burkes parents and in the most awkward of circumstances the interns campaign for izzies reinstatement to the surgical intern program, addison takes a break from her hospital duties, and a surgical patient lives what may be her last day to the fullest, on greys anatomy, thursday, september 28 (9:00 10:01 p.m., et) on the disney general entertainment content via getty images television network. (photo by vivian zink/disney general entertainment content via getty images)
Vivian Zink/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

In a cruel twist of fate, or what Ellen called her “worst nightmare,” the pair had to reshoot the entire scene after receiving a note from ABC. “The network said there was too much thrusting,” she said. And so, back to work they went.

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The awkwardness was helpful in one aspect, however. In the scene, Meredith realizes that she still misses Derek and she breaks down and cries. “I've never seen it. I don't know how it was shot or covered or what the end, how it was edited, but I'm full on in tears the whole entire scene,” she said. “Those are real tears.”

Despite the unfortunate event that was their sex scene, Ellen and T.R. have remained close. In 2020, following his surprise return to Grey's Anatomy, T.R. praised Ellen on Instagram, calling her “the kind of actor I'm endlessly grateful to act with.” He continued, “She's the embodiment of truth. George and Meredith love each other, for sure, but I don't think he can hold a candle to love I have for Ellen.”

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