After Patrick Dempsey's character Dr. Derek Shepherd's death, "Grey's Anatomy" season 11 did not make a history of being the first American TV series ever to kill a main character. Years ago, the late Isaac Hayes' character Chef was killed in "South Park" season 10.
In 2006, "South Park" season 10 episode 1 titled "The Return Of Chef" featured Chef being unable to break free from his brainwashing. After falling off a cliff, the cafeteria employee with a baritone voice was shot several times and his body was mutilated by wild animals.
Hayes decided to leave "South Park" reportedly because the Comedy Central series aired an episode in November 2005 titled "Trapped in the Closet," which poked fun at Hayes' religion, which is Scientology.
At the time, Trey Parker's "South Park" co-creator Matt Stone told MTV News that Hayes never had a problem with "South Park" poking fun at Christians, Mormons, Jews and Muslims, but after 10 years, he "got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show."
On the other hand, the recent death of Dr. Derek Shepherd in "Grey's Anatomy" has nothing to do with religious sensitivity.
In a statement released to Entertainment Weekly, "Grey's Anatomy" creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes said that Ellen Pompeo's character Dr. Meredith Grey's character and the whole "Grey's Anatomy" family are "about to enter uncharted territory as we head into this new chapter of her life. The possibilities for what may come are endless."
In the statement, Rhimes did not explain why Dr. Derek Shepherd had to be killed off in "Grey's Anatomy" season 11 episode 21 titled "How To Save A Life."