The Shocking Hidden Truth Behind Katherine Heigl's Departure from Grey's Anatomy in Season 6

Summary

Izzie Stevens left Grey's Anatomy due to a combination of behind-the-scenes conflicts with Katherine Heigl and the character's storyline developments.

Izzie's departure was influenced by Heigl's strained relationship with showrunner Shonda Rhimes, which originated from her past comments and behavior.

However, despite these past tensions, there is a possibility for Izzie to make a return in the future. This could bring closure not only to the character but also to Heigl herself.

Many characters have come and gone in Grey's Anatomy over the seasons, including Katherine Heigl's Izzie Stevens, who departed in season 6. Shonda Rhimes, the creator of the show, focuses on the lives of the hospital's surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they navigate their personal and professional lives. The main character, Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pompeo), rises from being an intern to the head of general surgery. Alongside Meredith, the hospital is populated by a rotating cast of characters, such as Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), George O'Malley (T.R. Knight), and Izzie Stevens.

Throughout its 19-plus seasons, Grey's Anatomy has seen numerous characters leave for various reasons, whether by their own choice or due to being written out of the show. Whenever a character departs, it raises the question of whether their exit was planned or unexpected. Similarly, when Heigl vanished from the series, many wondered why Izzie left Grey's Anatomy. Heigl's early career was marred by documented difficulties and strained relationships with several colleagues. However, in recent years, she has managed to repair many of those damaged connections. Nevertheless, it still comes as a surprise to the audience when Izzie bids farewell to Grey's Anatomy.

Why Izzie Left Grey's Anatomy

In the fifth season, Izzie received a diagnosis of cancer. Following an intricate treatment and a surgical procedure to extract a brain tumor, performed by the renowned Derek Shepherd, she experienced a significant improvement in her health. However, her professional life took a downturn when she was terminated due to an error in administering medication to a patient. Consequently, Izzie's presence in the series became sporadic, and she eventually decided to leave Seattle in search of a fresh start. Later on, she initiated divorce proceedings, sending the necessary papers to Alex Karev. Izzie's storyline reached a satisfying conclusion when Alex, controversially, departed from Grey's Anatomy to reunite with her. It was revealed that Izzie had become a surgical oncologist and was now raising twins, who were also Alex's.

Katherine Heigl's Feud With Shonda Rhimes

In 2008, Katherine Heigl chose not to be considered for an Emmy nomination, explaining that she felt she hadn't been given enough substantial material. Despite her attempts to clarify her statement, the damage had already been done. Heigl apologized to Rhimes, but Rhimes told Oprah Winfrey that she believed in the notion of "when people show you who they are, believe them". Following this, rumors surfaced about the Grey's Anatomy writers planning to kill off Izzie, though the cancer storyline did not come until a few seasons later. In 2009, Heigl requested an early release from her contract, stating that she wanted to prioritize spending time with her family and felt it would be disrespectful to fans of the series to have Izzie come and go without proper closure.

In addition to the circumstances surrounding Izzie's departure from Grey's Anatomy, there were also whispers about Heigl being difficult to work with as a colleague. Rhimes referred to her in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, mentioning that her show Scandal did not have any "Heigls" and that she refuses to collaborate with "nasty people". Katherine Heigl has gained a reputation for being challenging to work with, which could explain why she has been involved in fewer major projects since her time on Grey's Anatomy. Furthermore, Izzie's exit from the show was handled in a peculiar way, as she did not receive proper closure until many seasons later and it seemed more as a means to give closure to another character.

Izzie Could Return In The Future

It has been years since Katherine Heigl controversially left Grey's Anatomy, and it seems that time has helped mend some of the hard feelings. Shonda Rhimes, the show's creator, has expressed openness to the idea of Izzie, Heigl's character, returning to the show. This is a much more receptive attitude towards Heigl than Rhimes has previously shown. Heigl herself has stated that she would be interested in wrapping up her character's story arc. With season 20 approaching, there is a possibility for several Grey's Anatomy characters to make a return, and Izzie could be one of them. This would give fans a chance to see how Izzie has changed since her departure.

Furthermore, Izzie's return would offer an interesting commentary on Heigl's own career trajectory. With her relatively low profile in recent years, apart from her role in Firefly Lane on Netflix, seeing Heigl back on screen would demonstrate her growth as an actor. Izzie's departure from Grey's Anatomy has likely been something both fans and Heigl herself have struggled with throughout the years, and her return would bring a sense of closure to everyone involved with the show.