Patrick Dempsey's Affair Cost Him His Marriage and 'Greys Anatomy' Job

Several weeks after Patrick Dempsey's character was killed off of Grey's Anatomy we're starting to learn about the turmoil off-screen that contributed to Shonda Rhimes' decision to fire one of her formerly beloved actors. Months before Dempsey left the show it was confirmed that his wife, Jillian Fink had filed for divorce and that led many to speculate on what might have contributed to the demise of what was once a solid Hollywood marriage. Apparently, it was an affair with a young Grey's Anatomy staffer that ruined Dempsey's marriage and also ultimately cost him his job.

According to an exclusive report by Radar Online, "Patrick's affair with the staffer on the show began last August. It was obvious to everyone Patrick was [sleeping with] her. It got very messy and emotional on set and became a huge liability. Patrick would remain in his trailer after hooking up with her on set and refuse to come out. He had also been complaining about the storyline of his character, and felt he wasn't getting enough screen time. Shonda doesn't put up with any off-screen antics. There were lingering feelings of anger towards Patrick, and it was only getting worse. This is when he began showing up late, not remembering lines. Shonda had no other choice but to fire him," explains an insider.

Ellen Pompeo, Dempsey's costar reportedly told Fink, her very good friend, about the illicit affair and that ultimately pushed her to file for divorce. Pompeo also went to her bosses about the situation and helped to fuel Rhimes' anger towards Dempsey. She took a few months to craft the perfect, unexpected exit for his character, something that was much a relief to his castmates as it was a shock to fans.

Can you believe that Dempsey was foolish enough to mess up both his home life and the job that provided him with financial stability over some random side chick? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

UPDATE: Sources indicate that the original story published by InTouch has been taken offline, possibly indicating some questionable details in the publication's original story. It should be noted that none of the individuals in the story have commented publicly about the details expressed within InTouch's report.

Tags

Grey's Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo, Shonda Rhimes