Ellen Pompeo is not holding back. The actress, best known for her long-standing role as Meredith Grey on ABC's hit series Grey's Anatomy, has recently opened up about her years-long struggle for equal pay, bringing attention to the gender pay gap that continues to plague the entertainment industry.
Appearing on the March 18 episode of the popular podcast Call Her Daddy, Pompeo disclosed that despite being the titular character on a show that has captivated audiences since its inception in 2005, she initially earned less money than her co-star Patrick Dempsey. "I'm not saying he didn't deserve that money," she explained. "Just being that I was the namesake of the show, I deserved the same and that was harder to get. I wasn't salty about him getting what he got. I was salty that they didn't value me as much as they valued him and they never will."
Pompeo's fight for equality culminated in 2018 when her phenomenal contract was made public, revealing she had brokered a staggering $20 million deal, earning $575,000 per episode, a seven-figure signing bonus, and more. This development turned heads and raised eyebrows, both for its magnitude and for the stark conversation it sparked about compensation among women in Hollywood.
Reflecting on the months leading up to the reveal of her contract, Pompeo recalled a critical conversation with her then-manager. "My manager at the time said something to me that literally hit me like a brick... Well, I just don't want you to think that everyone's going to go in and cheer for you and clap for you... because there's going to be a lot of people who are not happy for you," Pompeo recounted. She expressed her realization of the societal challenges surrounding women's achievements in the workplace.
Over the years, it has become evident that the entertainment industry often celebrates male actors for their lucrative contracts. Pompeo pointed out the disparity: "Sports players are celebrated for their contracts... but women don’t experience this level of scrutiny over money." Her fight for equal representation and fair compensation reflects broader issues of misogyny in the industry.
As she navigated these challenges, Pompeo also recognized the potential that comes with her financial success: "When you make a lot of money as a woman, let's face it, you have power, right? So then how can I take that power and do good with it? How can I amplify someone else? How can I help someone else?" She emphasized the responsibility that comes with success and the importance of using her platform to elevate others.
The pay discrepancies between her and Dempsey, which existed since the show's launch, were a painful reality for Pompeo initially. She recalled the context of her and Dempsey's careers at that time, stating, "To be completely fair, the television game was so different then... He had done 13 pilots before me... but, in all fairness, his quote was what it was. He was a bigger star than I was at that point." Her acknowledgment of Dempsey's prior experience highlighted the complexities of the industry and the inherent biases that often put women at a disadvantage.
Even as she faced these challenges, Pompeo embraced her role as a beacon of change and empowerment. Now reflecting on her future ventures following her planned departure from Grey's Anatomy, she expressed her desire to continue advocating for women's rights and fair pay in the industry. "Once you get to a certain level, you can advocate for other women on your platform or in your workplace," she said. "If you know that you are getting this much and all the other women are well beneath you, you can't just be OK with that. You really do have a responsibility to look and see what everybody else is making and use your power to say, ‘Listen, I appreciate what I got. But I really think that all the women deserve a bump.'"
Following nearly two decades of bringing Meredith Grey to life, Pompeo's decision to depart from Grey's Anatomy after its 19th season is a historical moment for the series. However, it is a departure marked not just by the end of an era but by significant discussions surrounding gender equality that she has steadfastly championed.
Pompeo's story encourages other women to advocate for their worth in various professional spaces. Through her journey, she hopes to send a resonant message about the importance of equality and empowerment for every woman, no matter the industry.
