SPOILER ALERT: This story includes details about Thursday night’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

Grey’s Anatomy fans finally learned the fate of Alex Karev on last night’s farewell episode, which delivered not one but two big shocks.

Not only did Alex abruptly leave his wife, Jo Karev, and his life in Seattle to reunite with his first wife Izzie Stevens, but he’s also the father to Izzie’s 5-year-old twins.

The revelation did not come without controversy as many long-time viewers felt that Alex abandoning his wife to be with his ex and his newly-discovered kids wasn’t a proper sendoff. Grey’s Anatomy headliner Ellen Pompeo took to Instagram Friday morning to address the fans in a lengthy message defending the exit storyline.

“Hi here I go again … Thank YOU! You are truly the best most passionate most loyal fans anyone could ever ask for. Because of you we got to make great tv… because of you we got to make television history! I say often life is hard and thank God it is because like I tell my kids… it shows us what we are made …of how strong we really are and let’s face it… without the lows there would be no dancing it out or celebrating this incredible experience we call life.”

“Thanks to our national treasure @therealdebbieallen and the writers for giving Alex Karev the best send off. Thanks to @shondarhimes for creating the most amazing character. For me personally for Karev to go back to the beginning…. was the best possible storyline. It pays homage to those incredible first years and the incredible cast …that created a foundation so strong that the show is still standing. So let’s not be sad. As our fearless leader DA always says let’s PULL UP and celebrate the actors the writers and the fantastic crew who make this show come to life every week. No matter what the challenge or how tired we all are in the end… you keep us going…..That is worth dancing it out over! So much love and gratitude to you all. Xo E”

As Meredith Grey put it herself in the final moments of last night’s farewell episode, “There is really no good way to say goodbye.”

See the post from Pompeo below.

Check out some Twitter reactions to last night’s episode

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. EXCEPT THE GREYS ANATOMY WRITING CREW. #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/ZEyF2VxYqm — taylor leonard (@tayleo18) March 6, 2020

Good morning to Jo WILSON, and to Jo Wilson ONLY #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/cEymKqgKkM — 𝚃𝚎𝚍𝚍𝚢’𝚜 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎☼ (@theodorasgrace) March 6, 2020

When you pray they won’t kill off Alex Karev and they don’t but the way they do write him off makes you wish they had just killed him #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/FipmEtCZVd — Ashleigh 🖤🌈 (@AshDeeAnn) March 6, 2020

Alex Karev has gone through the best character developement in this show and Alex Karev that I know would never EVER abandon the amazing woman Jo became for Izzie, especially through letters but y'all not ready to have this conversation yet. Dissapointing #GreysAnatomy pic.twitter.com/KiDS5Mr7k0 — 𝓘𝓸𝓪𝓷𝓪 (@_GoldenZayn) March 6, 2020