Ellen Pompeo’s Red Carpet Injury: The Unsexy Truth

Ellen Pompeo has an injured foot.

On Saturday, June 14, the Grey’s Anatomy star, 55, surprised the audience at a Tribeca Festival Storytellers event in New York City when she appeared with a black boot on her foot.

During a fireside conversation with Katie Couric, she revealed how she injured herself.

After Couric, 68, asked, “What the hell happened to your foot?” Pompeo said, “I wish it was, like, a cool, sexy or exciting story, like I was doing some cool stunts or something.”

While the former Today star assumed that pickleball was to blame, Pompeo told her the injury actually happened far from the court.

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“I just, you know, was half asleep and jumped out of bed too quick and landed on my foot the wrong way. Somewhat clumsy of me,” she said.

“And by the way, this is almost like my party trick,” she continued. “I literally have done this three times, not the same way I’ve done it. This is my second time doing it that way, being asleep and jumping out too fast.”

Pompeo said the first time occurred during season 2 of Grey’s Anatomy when she was especially tired from some long days on set.

“My alarm was set, and I was so tired, working crazy hours, and I forgot to shut off my alarm because it was Saturday, so I thought I had overslept. So, the alarm goes off, and I jump out of bed, and I step the wrong way,” she recalled.

She then joked: “At least I had an excuse that time. This time, I have no excuse!”

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During her conversation with Couric at Spring Studios in New York City, Pompeo also delved into her longtime relationship with Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, per Variety.

“I think the most important thing to note about Shonda and I’s relationship is we very easily could have been pitted against one another,” she said.

“And there were plenty of instances where people on my team would suggest that, you know, it’s me against her, and I just, I believe that you get more with honey than you do with vinegar,” the Good American Family star continued. “And if someone proves and shows you who they are, then believe them.”