The Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington was once a guest director during the show’s 12th season, helming the episode “The Sound of Silence.”
On a recent episode of her “Tell Me With Ellen Pompeo” podcast that featured former costar Patrick Dempsey as a guest, the Meredith Gray star described to Dempsey how a scene in which she ad libbed lines and provided guidance to one more entertainer brought about a contention among her and Washington.
“I was like, ‘Look at me when you apologize. Look at me,’ and that wasn’t in the dialogue,” she recalled in which Washington stopped rolling and intervened. “And Denzel went ham on my ass. He was like, ‘I’m the director. Don’t you tell him what to do.'”
She fought back by saying, “I was like, ‘Listen, motherfucker, this is my show. This is my set. Who are you telling? You barely even know where the bathroom is.’”
Pompeo additionally added that Washington just did the show since his better half is a major fan, “I think he saw it as a good exercise to just come in and direct something quick.”
Regardless of the brutal remarks on their time working together, the entertainer proceeded to say that she has the “utmost respect for [Washington] as an actor and director” and that working with him was “amazing.”
“I told his wife, I was like, ‘Yeah, he yelled at me today. He let me have it today, and I’m not OK with him, and I’m not looking at him, and I’m not talking to him.’”
Reactions to Ellen Pompeo Disrespects Oscar Winner Denzel
Denzel Washington: Ellen can you move slightly to the left.. Ellen Pompeo : DO YOU KNOW WHO TF I AM?! This is MY SET! THIS IS MY SHOW
@xoraveen
Denzel Washington: Ellen can you move slightly to the left..
— raveen marie ☕️✨ (@xoraveen) September 30, 2021
Ellen Pompeo : DO YOU KNOW WHO TF I AM?! This is MY SET! THIS IS MY SHOW pic.twitter.com/zduokIDJ6A
Ellen Pompeo really disrespected Denzel Washington and proudly told the world like we were gonna be on her side…
@shonnia21
Ellen Pompeo really disrespected Denzel Washington and proudly told the world like we were gonna be on her side… pic.twitter.com/oZpmVoO6L4
— Shonnia Burton (@shonnia21) September 30, 2021
denzel washington: can you get me some water ellen pompeo: i’m ellen pompeo denzel washington: ok ellen pompeo can you get me some water
@missemilyblunt
denzel washington: can you get me some water
— dani (@missemilyblunt) September 30, 2021
ellen pompeo: i’m ellen pompeo
denzel washington: ok ellen pompeo can you get me some water
Ellen Pompeo: Haha I cussed at Denzel Washington and tried to humble him even though he was the director haha but we're cool now🤪 Twitter:
@pholanthropist
Ellen Pompeo: Haha I cussed at Denzel Washington and tried to humble him even though he was the director haha but we're cool now🤪
— 🥣 (@pholanthropist) September 30, 2021
Twitter: pic.twitter.com/4ryJxcgUar
Ellen Pompeo telling us that Denzel story is like when Liam Neeson told us that story about him wanting to kill a random black man. No one asked. But they know nothing will happen to them if they tell the story because of their privilege.
@CheyanneBabeey
Ellen Pompeo telling us that Denzel story is like when Liam Neeson told us that story about him wanting to kill a random black man. No one asked. But they know nothing will happen to them if they tell the story because of their privilege.
— Cheyanne. (@CheyanneBabeey) September 30, 2021
Me after finding out what Ellen Pompeo said to Denzel Washington...DENZEL!!!
@eastbayche
Me after finding out what Ellen Pompeo said to Denzel Washington…DENZEL!!! pic.twitter.com/JMBkyY5s0y
— Chi (@eastbayche) September 30, 2021
Denzel Washington: Can you speak in a soft voice for this scene? Ellen Pompeo: 🤡
@MeAloneInMyMind
Denzel Washington: Can you speak in a soft voice for this scene?
— In My Mind (@MeAloneInMyMind) September 30, 2021
Ellen Pompeo: 🤡 pic.twitter.com/VxFUmP3F1J
denzel washington: *doing his job as director* ellen pompeo: now listen here buster you cant do that everyone else on set:
@dreamyprentiss
denzel washington: *doing his job as director*
— nadia (@dreamyprentiss) September 30, 2021
ellen pompeo: now listen here buster you cant do that
everyone else on set: pic.twitter.com/X1jjgh9Blz
Denzel Washington: Hey folks I’m directing this ep, we’re gonna have a great time 👍🏽 Ellen Pompeo:
@BrooklynBoyB
Denzel Washington: Hey folks I’m directing this ep, we’re gonna have a great time 👍🏽
— Brooklyn (@BrooklynBoyB) September 30, 2021
Ellen Pompeo: pic.twitter.com/u6H8Egbohw
denzel washington: two-time oscar winner actor ellen: pompeo
@twiceblunt
denzel washington: two-time oscar winner actor
— emily blunt's manager (@twiceblunt) September 30, 2021
ellen: pompeo