“R.J. Decker”'s“ ”Bevin Bru Says Costar Scott Speedman Is the Reason She Stopped Watching “Grey’s Anatomy” (Exclusive)

Sabienna BowmanThu, March 5, 2026 at 5:53 PM UTC

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Bevin Bru (left) on 'R.J. Decker'; Scott Speedman on 'Grey's Anatomy'Credit: Disney/Dana Hawley; Disney/Anne Marie Fox -

Bevin Bru stopped watching Grey's Anatomy after Scott Speedman joined the cast following McDreamy's death

After meeting Speedman on the set of R.J. Decker, Bru decided to give the show another chance

Bru describes her R.J. Decker character, Mel, as a strong Cuban American detective with a tough exterior and soft heart

R.J. Decker's leading man made Bevin Bru quit watching one of her favorite shows.

In an exclusive on set interview with PEOPLE in Wilmington, N.C., Bru revealed that before she met her costar, Scott Speedman, he was just the man who had the audacity to try and replace McDreamy on Grey's Anatomy when he appeared on the scene as Dr. Nick Marsh in season 14.

"I was obsessed with Grey's Anatomy, and I was obsessed with Grey [Ellen Pompeo] and Dr. McDreamy [Patrick Dempsey], and I know that when he died — spoiler alert, like a 100 years ago — when he died and Scott came on, I was just like, 'No. No, I'm not about it, I'm done with this show. I'm done with you people.' And I just stopped watching," she explains.

At the time, Bru didn't know Speedman, and she admits that after meeting him, she decided to give Meredith and her new partner a chance. "Then I met him, and I was like, 'I don't hate you, you're a very nice man. I'm going to watch Grey's Anatomy again,' " she says with a laugh. "And I have since then started watching Grey's Anatomy again. I'm on season 2, so."

"Oh my God, he’s going to be like write her off the show, she's done," Bru, 34, jokes of Speedman, 50, now that he knows he caused her to rage-quit Grey's Anatomy.

Scott Speedman (left) and Lena Waithe on 'Grey's Anatomy'Credit: Disney/Anne Marie Fox

The Batwoman alum's origin story with Speedman lends itself well to the dynamic between her character Mel and Speedman's character, private investigator R.J., on the show. Mel Abreu is a police officer, who also happens to be married to R.J.'s ex-wife, Catherine Delacroix. As a result, Mel and R.J. often end up working together to solve crimes in Ft. Lauderdale, whether they like it or not.

"It's interesting because I don't think I've really seen it that often played out, where it's like, this is my wife's ex-husband," Bru says of Mel and R.J.'s "odd couple" pairing. "It's kind of like ... I was about to say something crude. But chest puffing, let's say, contest at first, and then I think it's like this mutual respect, very teasing, taunting."

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She went on to tease where R.J. and Mel are heading in season 1. "I think we get closer, I think something will happen, and you got to watch to find out, that will kind of tear us apart, and then... I don't know, because I haven't read the episodes yet. But I do believe that we will find our way back to that mutual place. So, it's going to be a journey."

Bevin Bru (left) and Scott Speedman on 'R.J. Decker'Credit: Disney/Dana Hawley

As for her character, Bru sees lots of herself in Mel — and not just because they're both from Florida. "She is a no-nonsense detective, no holds barred," she says, adding, "She is a very strong Cuban American woman, who is in a relationship with Catherine, who is another strong, incredible woman. She has a beautiful daughter of her own, from a previous relationship, that she has raised independently and now with Catherine. And she is someone, hard on the outside, but so mushy on the inside. She's like a little chihuahua."

Bru continues, "And I'm like a chihuahua. So, Mel and I are like chihuahuas. And a lot, a lot of bark, a lot of bark, tiny little... Small little bite. Just a lot of love, a lot of passion."

Bevin Bru on 'R.J. Decker'Credit: Disney/Dana Hawley

R.J. Decker, which is inspired by Carl Hiaasen's 1987 novel Double Whammy, is set in Ft. Lauderdale and focuses on R.J., a former photojournalist who is trying his hand at being a P.I. after being released from prison. In addition to Speedman and Bru, the cast also includes Kevin Rankin, Adelaide Clemens and Jaina Lee Ortiz.

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New episodes of R.J. Decker air Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. EST on ABC. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”