Ellen Pompeo Sends a Bold Message About Taylor Swift's Influence on 'Grey's Anatomy'

Ellen Pompeo and Taylor Swift

Ellen Pompeo jokingly suggested that Grey’s Anatomy might owe some of its success to Taylor Swift.

During a recent interview with People, the star of the long-running hit ABC medical drama was asked why she believes the show has remained so popular into its 20th season. Pompeo, who has played Meredith Grey as part of the main cast since Grey’s Anatomy began, first credited the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, to its continued success. The actress then joked that the “Cruel Summer” singer might have also played a role in keeping the show going.

“Second, Taylor Swift named her cat after Meredith Grey!” Pompeo told the magazine. “Just kidding,” she added before attributing the show’s success to its dedicated viewers. “It is because of our awesome fans.”

Related: Everything to Know About Taylor Swift's Cats

As Pompeo mentioned, Swift does have a cat named Meredith Grey, a nod to her love for the show. She also has Olivia Benson, a cat named after Mariska Hargitay’s character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and another named Benjamin Button, which she was named for the title character in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button—and who appeared with Swift on Time’s 2023 Person of the Year magazine cover last fall.

Swift previously shared that she started watching Grey’s Anatomy when it first began airing. During a 2012 interview with The Daily Beast, the “Anti-Hero” singer said the show was “the one long-term relationship” she’d had at that time.

More recently, Rhimes recalled the first time she met Swift when the singer stopped by her office on set around the time of her Fearless era and played a song. The former Grey’s showrunner told People in an interview published this week that Swift had identified herself as a big fan of the show. Given that their initial meeting occurred before Swift became a huge star, Rhimes said she hadn’t at that time known who the “Love Story” singer was.

Next: Mariska Hargitay Has a Blunt Response When Asked About Naming Her Cat After Taylor Swift