Yesterday, Sandra Oh, who plays Dr. Cristina Yang on "Grey's Anatomy," has announced in an interview that she will be leaving the show. Twitter users have reacted by making memes of Oh's Character.
Oh revealed the information in an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Her exit will follow the completion of the upcoming 10th season of ABC's top rated drama. She has been a part of the show since the beginning in 2005.
"Creatively, I really feel like I gave it my all, and I feel ready to let her go," an emotional Oh told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's such an interesting thing to play a character for so long and to actually get the sense that she wants to be let go as well. [Cristina] wants to be let go, and I am ready to let her go. We have to start the process, story-wise, for the Grey's writers to think of why she's going to go."
Oh says she started thinking about leaving in May 2012 before she signed another two year deal. The process and decision to leave has been very hard for her.
"I've gone through a lot of therapy over this," she said. "I started thinking about it because I had to prepare myself. I gave myself two years to emotionally let go. At the end of last season, Shonda took me aside and said, 'What are your thoughts?' I said, 'I'm ready,'" Oh explains her conversation with Shonda Rhimes, creator, producer, and head writer of "Grey's Anatomy."
"One of the best days of my life as a writer happened the day Sandra Oh walked in my door to audition and forever changed the course of Grey's Anatomy with her brilliant, nuanced portrayal of Cristina Yang," Rhimes said. "Over the past 10 seasons, I have been made better by Sandra's trust, faith and friendship, and I can't quantify how grateful I am for her collaboration on a character we both love so deeply. This year is going to be bittersweet for us -- we're both going to savor every moment of Cristina Yang, and then we're going to give her the exit she deserves. And when Sandra walks out of my door, Grey's Anatomy will once again be forever changed."
It is not clear how Oh's exit will be handled onscreen. As of right now, no other castmembers are announced to be leaving, although contracts are up at the end of the 10th season for Patrick Dempsey (Derek), Ellen Pompeo (Meredith), Justin Chambers (Alex), James Pickens Jr. (Webber) and Chandra Wilson (Bailey). Dempsey recently told The Hollywood Reporter that his exit from the show is up for discussion.
"It's our intention to have Grey's on the air for many years to come, with as many of the original cast as possible," ABC said in a statement.
Upon hearing the news, the twitter world exploded with memes of Oh's character Yang. Below are some of the ones International Business Times compiled.
"Sandra Oh is leaving Greys Anatomy" pic.twitter.com/uIidDO37eF
— Calzona Will Survive (@JCap4life) August 13, 2013
When the fandom heard the news about Sandra Oh leaving: pic.twitter.com/C5ZwCWEw5V
— ♡ Adoring JCap ∞ (@thejessicadong) August 13, 2013
Who will miss Sandra Oh on Grey's anatomy? pic.twitter.com/s0mtyUuJEZ
— Madame Parlodasola (@itisellen3) August 13, 2013
"Grey's Anatomy" returns September 26.