"Grey's Anatomy" is notorious for killing off its most beloved characters. From Denny Duquette and George O'Malley's demise, we haven't been able to trust Shonda Rhimes since. We've endured fatal plane crashes (Lexie and Mark better be together in heaven), botched surgeries (RIP Henry) and freak accidents (Heather Brooks deserved better!) and have still chosen to continue watching this show.
One of the deaths that dealt a smaller blow, for whatever reason, was Adele Webber's. Former Chief of Surgery Richard (James Pickens Jr.)'s wife was battling with Alzheimer's, and ultimately met her fate after a heart attack after surgery. It was, I thought, a necessary ending to her storyline, and since it was coupled into the episode when Miranda Bailey marries Ben Warren, it feels like a flit on the "Grey's" radar at this point.
Turns out, actress Loretta Devine ain't over it.
Devine recently sat down for an episode of PeopleTV’s "Couch Surfing" and shared her thoughts on what went down in the writer's room on "Grey's."
She credits Debbie Allen, who plays Catherine Avery on the show to this day, for being killed off, explaining that this isn't the first time she's left a show immediately after Allen's appearance.
"When I was doing 'Dreamgirls,' Debbie Allen came over, took over that, then I was gone. Then she came over there to 'Grey’s Anatomy,' took over that, then I was gone. I was at 'The Client List' and they said Debbie Allen was coming in to direct, I got scared as hell," Devine said. Of course, the ribbing was all in good fun.
If you'll remember, Catherine and Richard were involved in a love affair on the show while Adele was still alive, albeit in the clutches of Alzheimer's.
"I got an Emmy for this show for best guest spot and then they fired me right after that," she told PeopleTV. "They killed me with that damn Alzheimer’s!"
Devine's theory is that Pickens Jr. and Allen's chemistry was too right, so they were the couple that was going to live on for the show. That meant Adele had to go.
Luckily, there's no bad blood: "Debbie’s directed me in a million things. I’ve done her plays. I love Debbie Allen, but the truth is the truth."
"Grey's Anatomy" returns for its 16th season on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.