Shonda Rimes: Not "Insulted" by Katherine Heigl's Emmy Comments

Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl, 29, withdrew herself from Emmy contention, saying that she didn't feel she was "given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination-" but show creator Shonda Rhimes says there are no hard feelings.

"I didn't feel insulted," Rhimes told reporters Thursday during an ABC TCA panel in Los Angeles. "I have a wonderful working relationship with Katherine, and Izzy is one of my favorite characters. So, [when I heard her comment] it was surprising."

Rhimes added,"But Katie is an outspoken person and I think we all knew that already.

But according to a source, in response to Heigls griping, staffers are considering giving her character, Dr. Izzie Stevens, a fatal brain tumor.

[Producer] Shonda [Rhimes] and the writers are pissed at her, the source told the new issue of Us Weekly. Its their way of screwing with her. She wont know whether shes going to live or die.

Rhimes told reporters at TCA, "Storywise we have a really great story worked out that we're all very excited about. And things are going fine."

But Ugly Betty creator Silvio Horta has other ideas.

I would have put her in a coma, Ugly Betty creator Silvio Horta joked about reports that Heigl's will get a fatal brain tumor.

At Wednesday's Television Critics Associations annual fall preview, ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson insisted Heigl is "absolutely staying with the show. There's an unbelievable storyline this season."

The show returns September 25 with a two-hour premiere.

(See photos of the Grey's Anatomy cast and their real-life loves.)

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