Ellen Pompeo addresses Hollywood's gender pay gap disparity

Ellen Pompeo has spoken out about the gender pay gap in Hollywood. In a recent podcast interview on Call Her Daddy, the actress shared her experiences about pay disparities while working on Grey's Anatomy. Pompeo expressed frustration about being paid less than her male co-star, Patrick Dempsey. She noted that Dempsey, who was a well-known actor at the time, earned more because of his past roles. "Back in those days, you had a quote," she said, explaining how actors' pay is affected by their experience. She acknowledged that Grey's Anatomy was her first major television role, and she was not a famous name at the start. Despite recognizing that Dempsey deserved his salary, she felt that her contributions were undervalued. "I was salty that they didn't value me as much as they valued him," she added. Grey's Anatomy continues to be a popular series, currently airing its 21st season on ABC.