For nearly two decades, Ellen Pompeo was one of the most recognisable faces on television thanks to her role as Dr Meredith Grey in Grey's Anatomy.
But while millions of viewers followed the character's dramatic life at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, the actress was dealing with an upsetting situation behind the scenes.
Pompeo has revealed that one of the show's familiar costume choices was influenced by concerns about her body and the intense scrutiny she faced over her appearance.
The revelation has surprised fans, many of whom assumed that the T-shirts Meredith frequently wore beneath her hospital scrubs were simply part of the character's style.
However, Pompeo has explained that the real reason was connected to the way people perceived her weight.
Why did Ellen Pompeo wear T-shirts underneath her scrubs?
Ellen Pompeo revealed that she was told to wear T-shirts beneath her medical scrubs because people working on Grey's Anatomy thought she looked too thin.
The actress explained that concerns about her appearance became so intense that people questioned whether she had an eating disorder.
Speaking on her Tell Me podcast during a conversation with celebrity doctor Jake Deutch, Pompeo recalled being naturally very thin when she was younger.
Despite explaining that her body type was natural, she said she repeatedly faced assumptions about her health.
According to Pompeo, the scrutiny even affected how she was dressed while playing a doctor on television.
She recalled being told that she needed to wear an additional shirt underneath her scrubs because her appearance was causing concern.
For viewers, the layered clothing may have appeared to be an ordinary wardrobe decision.
But for Pompeo, it was connected to a much more personal and distressing experience.
Ellen Pompeo says she cried over assumptions about her weight
Pompeo has spoken openly about how deeply the criticism affected her during the early years of her career.
She explained that she had always been naturally slim and struggled to understand why people repeatedly questioned her appearance.
The actress recalled becoming emotional because people assumed she had an eating disorder despite her insistence that her weight was natural.
She also described the pressure of dealing with tabloid speculation while working in Hollywood.
According to Pompeo, the constant commentary damaged her confidence and made her uncomfortable with certain public appearances.
At one stage, she said the scrutiny made attending red-carpet events particularly difficult.
Her comments offered an insight into the emotional toll that public criticism can have on performers, even when they appear confident on screen.
Grey's Anatomy production reportedly arranged meals for the actress
Pompeo revealed that the concerns surrounding her appearance went beyond wardrobe decisions.
During the podcast conversation, she explained that production staff arranged a meal service for her because they believed she might have an eating disorder.
She said the arrangement reflected the assumptions people were making about her health.
However, Pompeo has consistently maintained that she was naturally thin and did not have the condition people were speculating about.
The experience left her feeling misunderstood and frustrated.
Her account also highlighted the difficulties of working in an industry where performers' bodies can become subjects of intense professional and public attention.
What did Ellen Pompeo say about being accused of having an eating disorder?
In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, Pompeo discussed the criticism she received when she first became famous.
She explained that she had struggled with confidence because of repeated comments about how thin she looked.
The actress also expressed concern about media outlets suggesting that she had an eating disorder without evidence.
Pompeo argued that such speculation could send harmful messages to younger viewers who admired her.
She worried that audiences might incorrectly assume her appearance was the result of unhealthy behaviour rather than her natural body type.
The actress said the criticism had been particularly difficult because it occurred before social media became as prominent as it is today.
She also reflected on how much more intense the pressure could be for young women navigating the entertainment industry now.
Why did the comments affect her confidence?
Pompeo explained that repeatedly hearing negative comments about her body made her increasingly self-conscious.
Although she had not initially considered her weight to be a problem, the criticism caused her to question how other people perceived her.
She also described feeling upset when people assumed that her appearance reflected an underlying medical condition.
For the actress, the experience was particularly frustrating because she felt unable to change people's assumptions simply by explaining that she was naturally slim.
Her comments illustrate how persistent scrutiny can affect a person's confidence regardless of their appearance.
Grey's Anatomy fans react to the revelation
After clips of Pompeo discussing her experience circulated online, viewers expressed sympathy for the actress.
Some fans said they had never realised there was a personal reason behind Meredith Grey's layered hospital outfits.
One viewer explained that they had always assumed the character wore an additional shirt because she was cold.
Others criticised the double standards they believed women face when it comes to body image.
Several commenters argued that women can be criticised for being either too thin or too heavy, creating unrealistic expectations about how they should look.
Other fans questioned why an actress playing the show's central character had been subjected to such scrutiny.
The reactions demonstrated how a seemingly minor television wardrobe detail could have a much more personal story behind it.
What is skinny-shaming?
Skinny-shaming refers to negative comments, criticism or assumptions directed at someone because they have a slim body type.
It can include suggesting that someone is unhealthy solely because of their appearance or making unwanted remarks about their weight.
Although conversations about body image often focus on pressure to lose weight, people with naturally slim bodies can also experience criticism and unwanted attention.
Body size alone cannot establish whether someone has an eating disorder or another medical condition.
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that require appropriate professional assessment and treatment.
Making assumptions about someone's health based only on their appearance can contribute to stigma and distress.
Pompeo's comments have been widely discussed as an example of how such assumptions can affect people in the public eye.
Ellen Pompeo wants to challenge harmful body image assumptions
Pompeo has used her public platform to discuss the way women's bodies are judged in the entertainment industry.
By sharing her own experiences, she has drawn attention to the emotional impact of appearance-related criticism.
She has also expressed concern about the messages that media coverage can send to younger audiences.
Her comments highlight the importance of avoiding unsupported assumptions about someone's health or eating habits.
Rather than treating body size as evidence of a particular condition, she has encouraged a more thoughtful approach to conversations about appearance.
How long did Ellen Pompeo play Meredith Grey?
Pompeo first appeared as Meredith Grey when Grey's Anatomy premiered in 2005.
The medical drama, created by Shonda Rhimes, became one of television's longest-running and most successful scripted series.
Meredith's personal and professional life remained central to the programme for many years.
Pompeo stepped back from her regular on-screen role during the show's nineteenth season but continued her association with the series through narration, production and selected appearances.
Her portrayal of Meredith Grey made her one of the most recognisable actresses in television drama.
For longtime viewers, her account of the early years of production has added a different perspective to the show's familiar costumes.
Why Ellen Pompeo's revelation matters
What appeared to be a simple wardrobe choice on Grey's Anatomy was, according to Pompeo, connected to an experience that caused her considerable distress.
The actress has described facing repeated assumptions about her weight, being questioned about her eating habits and having her appearance scrutinised while working on one of television's most popular shows.
Her decision to discuss those experiences publicly has encouraged viewers to reconsider how casually comments about other people's bodies are sometimes made.
It also serves as a reminder that an individual's appearance does not provide enough information to make conclusions about their health.
For Pompeo, the T-shirts worn beneath Meredith Grey's scrubs represented far more than a costume decision.
They were part of a difficult period in her career that she has since chosen to discuss openly in the hope of challenging harmful assumptions.
Source: Tyla, July 2, 2024, citing Ellen Pompeo's Tell Me podcast conversation with Jake Deutch and her 2021 interview with PEOPLE.
