Grey's Anatomy Extra Faces Backlash Over Eric Dane Comments Following His Death
Laura Ann Tull, a background actress who worked as an extra on the long-running medical drama series Grey's Anatomy, has been heavily criticised by fans after launching a scathing attack on the late actor Eric Dane in the days following his death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at age 53.
Scathing Social Media Rant Draws Widespread Condemnation
Tull took to the social media platform Threads last week to make a series of explosive claims about Dane, who portrayed Dr. Mark Sloan on the show from 2006 to 2012. In her posts, she labelled the actor as 'evil,' 'a coward,' 'a jerk,' and a 'narcissist,' while alleging that he had 'abused' her on set during their time working together.
Most controversially, Tull asserted that she was responsible for Dane's departure from Grey's Anatomy in 2012, writing 'I am why he was fired from Grey's.' However, she provided no evidence to substantiate this claim or her other allegations against the late actor.
Fans Express Outrage Over Timing and Nature of Comments
The response from fans and social media users was swift and overwhelmingly negative, with many condemning Tull for speaking out against Dane so soon after his death and while his family continues to grieve.
One fan wrote: 'The man has died. He has young children. The fact that you are talking about this after his death of a terrible disease. You seem like the bully here.'
Another questioned: 'So why didn't you speak to your story while he was alive? You couldn't say these things about him when he was alive and able to defend himself?'
Further criticism came from those who pointed out the apparent hypocrisy in Tull's actions, with one commenter stating: 'He can't defend himself, so now you're brave? That's not honesty that's cowardice.'
Previous Allegations and Context of Claims
This is not the first time Tull has made allegations against Eric Dane. In a 2018 essay published on Medium, she previously accused the actor of calling her 'weird,' claiming she received this information in an email from 'an elected representative of Sag Aftra.'
In that same essay, Tull mentioned that she 'never talked to Dane directly' but alleged she heard him talking about her. She also brought Grey's Anatomy leading man Patrick Dempsey into her claims, suggesting he 'also seemed to comment about' her.
Eric Dane's Departure from Grey's Anatomy and Subsequent Career
Eric Dane was a main cast member on Grey's Anatomy for six seasons, first appearing as a guest star in season two before becoming a series regular in season three. His character, Dr. Mark Sloan, was written out at the beginning of season nine following a tragic plane crash storyline in the season eight finale.
In 2024, Dane revealed on Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast that there were multiple factors behind his departure from the show. While acknowledging his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction during his tenure, he stated: 'I didn't leave so much as I think I was let go.'
Dane believed the primary reason for his departure was financial, explaining: 'I was starting to become, as most of these actors who have spent significant time on the show, you start to become very expensive for the network.'
Eric Dane's Death and Legacy
The award-winning actor, who later gained acclaim for his role in Euphoria, died on February 19, less than a year after publicly announcing his ALS diagnosis. His family released a statement confirming his passing, saying: 'With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS.'
The statement continued: 'He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.'
Dane's family noted that throughout his journey with ALS, he had become 'a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight.' He is survived by his wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two teenage daughters.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to loss of muscle control and eventual paralysis as it worsens over time, according to medical experts at the Mayo Clinic.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Laura Ann Tull for comment regarding the backlash to her social media posts about Eric Dane.
