Katherine Heigl Tries to Clear the Air on 'Grey's Anatomy' Scandal 16 Years Later

Katherine Heigl is looking back at the years she spent on Grey's Anatomy, including one rumor that has followed her for over 15 years. 

The 45-year-old actress, who played Dr. Izzie Stevens on the first six seasons of the ABC medical drama, recently opened up about a scandal involving the 2008 Emmy Awards, when she faced backlash after being accused of turning down a nomination. 

Making an appearance on a recent episode of Shannen Doherty's Let's Be Clear podcast, Heigl tried to set the record straight, insisting that she never turned down any nomination, but that she just didn't submit her work for consideration that year. 

"I didn't turn it down ... I just didn't submit my work that year," she explained to Doherty, 53. 

Just one year prior, Heigl won the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 2007 Emmys, prompting questions from the public after she wasn't among the nominees in 2008. 

"I should've said nothing. I should've just said, 'Oh, I forgot,'" she said about her reaction to the situation. "Because it created such a maelstrom that was so unnecessary."

At the time, Heigl released a statement about her decision, telling Entertainment Weekly, in part, "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination." 

As a result, the 27 Dresses star said she wanted to "maintain the integrity of the academy organization. In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials."

Speaking to Doherty, Heigl said that she wasn't trying to be "snarky," with her statement, but that she "just wasn't proud" of the work she had done that year. "I would never be so bold or so arrogant to turn down a nomination. I would take that nomination. If it came my way, I'd be down."

But Heigl insisted that she was "trying to be honorable" about the situation. "I was trying to have some integrity. I wasn't trying to be a d—k," she added, with a laugh. 

At the 2008 Emmys, two of Heigl's Grey's Anatomy co-stars were nominated in the Supporting Actress category: Chandra Wilson, who plays Dr. Miranda Bailey, and Sandra Oh, who played Dr. Cristina Yang. The award, however, ended up going to Dianne West for her role in In Treatment. 

Next: Eric Dane Reveals the Real Reason Behind His 'Grey's Anatomy' Exit