Ellen Pompeo sends a message on Instagram to Grey’s Anatomy fans before departure

LOS ANGELES — Ellen Pompeo addressed her departure from Grey’s Anatomy in a social media post dedicated to fans of the show on Thursday.

“I am infinitely grateful and humbled by the love and support you have shown me, Meredith GRAY and the show for 19 seasons!” the actress, 53, wrote in one Instagram Post.

“Even so… none of this… would have been possible without the best fans in the world,” she continued. “You are all RIDERS and you all made the ride so fun and ICONIC!! I love you madly and appreciate you immediately.”

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Pompeo teased that this won’t be the last time viewers will see Meredith Grey, the character she has played in more than 400 episodes since Grey’s Anatomy debuted in 2005.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve been on the roller coaster… You know the show has to go on and I’ll definitely be back,” her post concluded. “With much love and great gratitude, XoE.”

Prior to the Season 19 premiere, it was revealed that Pompeo would be trimming down her role on the show, appearing in only eight episodes, while remaining as executive producer and continuing to provide voice-over narration for all episodes this season.

Meredith announced in the midseason finale, which aired Nov. 10, that she was leaving Gray Sloan Memorial to do research at the Catherine Fox Foundation for an Alzheimer’s cure.

A teaser for the midseason premiere shows Pompeo’s character – the series’ namesake – giving a loving farewell to her colleague as she embarks on her new adventure.

“Grey’s Anatomy” airs Thursdays on this ABC station.