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There are plenty of awkward moments in Grey's Anatomy. Still, none have stuck around like the uncomfortable s*x scene between Meredith Grey and George O'Malley in season 2, episode 19, titled What Have I Done to Deserve This? The episode aired in 2006.
It happens when Meredith is very emotional and vulnerable. Her relationship with Derek is over, and her father walks out on her at lunch, leaving her feeling alone. That night, George tells her he loves her. In a moment of weakness and confusion, she sleeps with him. But halfway through, she bursts into tears, completely breaking down mid-act.
In interviews, both Ellen Pompeo and T.R. Knight admitted how uncomfortable filming the scene was and how much they hated it. In an interview with People published on April 4, 2025, T.R. Knight reflected on filming the scene on Grey's Anatomy.
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“You can't really find a more humiliating experience,” he said.
T.R. Knight reveals why he and Ellen Pompeo dreaded this Grey's Anatomy Scene
R. Knight opened up about one of the most uncomfortable scenes in Grey's Anatomy; the infamous s*x scene between George O'Malley and Meredith Grey in season 2, episode 19. Fans had long debated the moment, and now Knight has confirmed just how difficult it was to shoot behind the scenes.
In an April 4, 2025, interview with People, Knight revealed that he and Ellen Pompeo were both extremely uncomfortable filming the scene. He said they had to do it twice, once because the first version had "too much thrusting." The need to reshoot it made the experience feel even more awkward. Knight referred to it as reliving a scene that already felt wrong, adding:
"It's like, what are our characters doing here?"
He wasn't just reacting to the physical discomfort. The issue reportedly went deeper into what the moment meant for George as a character. He spoke about character advocacy, saying that as an actor, it was painful to watch his character make a choice that clearly would haunt him.
He described the situation as watching a car speed down a dark road with no brakes. He also questioned whether George and Meredith's friendship could survive something so damaging.
Knight also explained that part of the stress came from knowing the emotional aftermath would be hard to recover from. The story involved George confessing his love to Meredith during one of her most emotionally fragile moments.
The decision to sleep with him didn't come from romantic interest but from emotional confusion. Meredith broke down in tears mid-act, which made the entire encounter more painful for both characters and actors.
He acknowledged that making mistakes is part of human life, which was what the writers aimed for in Grey's Anatomy. Knight admitted that despite his misgivings, the scene fits into the show's larger theme. He credited Shonda Rhimes and the writing team for having the courage to show how flawed people can be. Still, that didn't make it easier to film.
Even years later, the memory of that day sticks with him. While Pompeo said she cried during the scene, Knight said he didn't recall crying himself but added that her memory was probably better than his. According to him, it wasn't just a bad scene. It was a low point for two characters who were trying to find their place and ended up hurting each other instead.
Watch Grey's Anatomy on ABC.
