Katherine Heigl's exit from Grey's Anatomy has sparked rumors and speculation for years. Fans dissected her feud with Shonda Rhimes, her criticism of working conditions and, of course, the escaped Emmy.
Recently, during an appearance on Shannon Doherty's podcast Let's Be Clear , Heigl cleared up rumors that she was turned down an Emmy for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on the hit medical drama Nomination rumors. When Doherty said "she didn't know anyone who turned down an Emmy nomination other than you," Heigl responded, "Well, I didn't, everybody keeps saying that. I didn't turn it down."
She continued: "You know, you have to submit. You have to submit your work, and then they review it, and then they decide if they want to nominate you. I just didn't submit my work that year."
In 2007, Heigl won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance in "Grey's Anatomy." However, the actor caused controversy after reportedly turning down the nomination the following year.
In a statement released by Heigl in 2008, she explained: "I feel that there is not enough content in this season to earn me an Emmy nomination, and in order to preserve the integrity of the Academy organization, I have withdrawn my nomination from competition. name".
In an interview with Doherty on Let's Be Clear , Heigl said she now regrets making such a statement and "shouldn't have said anything." "I should have said, 'Oh, I forgot to [submit my work],' because it created such an unnecessary swirl," she continued.
Still, she acknowledged that she was trying to make a point with her remarks. “I was trying to make some snarky points about my material that year, but I also just wasn’t feeling my material,” she said.
The actor also clarified that if she had been nominated for an Emmy in 2008, she would "never be so bold or arrogant" to turn it down.
“If the nomination goes my way, I’ll accept it,” Heigl added. "I would be frustrated. But I just know there was nothing really worthwhile about that year, and I guess I was trying to be decent. I was trying to maintain some integrity. I wasn't trying to be rude."
Heigl's "Grey's Reunion"
Heigl ultimately left Grey's Anatomy after its sixth season in 2010 due to differences with the show's creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes.
In January 2024, Heigl reunited with former Grey's Anatomy costars Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. at the Emmy Awards , celebrating the show as the longest-running medical drama in television history.
