Patrick Dempsey's exit from Grey's Anatomy in 2015 was a shock for fans, who were devastated by his character's death. However, the truth behind his departure was more controversial, as the actor reportedly had "HR issues" and had a tense relationship with the show's creator, Shonda Rhimes. Former executive producer James D. Parriott revealed that Dempsey would often terrorize the set and create a negative atmosphere. Despite this, Dempsey later returned for a cameo appearance in 2021, which he described as a healing process. Ellen Pompeo, who stars in the show, expressed excitement about his return.