Isaiah Washington (pictured) may have committed career suicide when he allegedly called Grey’s Anatomy costar T.R. Knight the inexcusable f-word that rhymes with maggot on the set in October. And yet, despite an initial outrage, the bad press surrounding Washington had seemed to die down in the past few months. So his real suicide attempt came during the cast’s group interview at Monday night’s Golden Globes, when Washington interrupted Shonda Rhimes to lean in and crassly proclaim, "No, I did not call T.R. a f—–." Um, you actually just did. Again. Into a microphone. At a press conference. D’oh!
At this point, it’s Washington’s move. Knight appeared on Ellen yesterday to confirm that Washington did use the slur, Katherine Heigl spoke out against him in her own interview, and GLAAD condemned him, then requested he meet with them so he can be "part of the solution" to anti-gay discrimination. I personally can’t see that happening, as Washington continues to deny he did anything wrong. But what should he do, at this point, besides apologize? (We’re waiting, dude. Still waiting.) Should his cast vote him off the show? If they did, could he even get another job? And would you have a problem watching him on TV?
UPDATE: ABC has issued a vaguely worded statement on the matter. What do you suppose this means?
UPDATE 2: Washington has issued a detailed apology, acknowledging that that gesture probably won’t be enough to resolve this issue.
Comments (1-30) of 138
I wouldn’t be surprised if we find out in the Season Finale, Dr. Burke gets a great offer from another hospital and he and Christina debates whether he should take it. The Chief position at Seattle Grace goes to someone else or the Chief stays and doesn’t retire. And then he does take the offer. Before they bring in someone new, next season. I just can’t see how they can keep him after this latest PR disaster. It’s not good for the show, or the actor to continue…
I think he’s gotta go. I suppose he’s entitled to his opinion on the matter, but his yapper has tuined his scenes on the show for me. I’m always wondering if scenes were written to encourage real-life forgiveness – like the recent scene where Burke assesses George’s dad’s condition. It pulls me out of the scene, out of the world the cast and staff have worked so hard to create – excise the problem before your viewers leave first.
I am totally disgusted by him and by Grey’s creator Shonda Rhimes for continually defending him. If one of the actor’s had refered to him as the “N” word do you think they’d be getting many lines on the show? I love the show and I love his character however I feel a strong message needs to be sent. He has to be fired. Nothing else is acceptable.
*ruined
For being a man of color he needs to watch what he says. He knows better. No one else would get away with this, so get it over with and fire him already.
the guy’s just dumb.
AND GAY. this is typical dumb guy closet case projection.
Hopefully he won’t come out and will just live in miserable isolation and a quick downward spiral. It won’t be long before no one remembers him.
the guy’s just dumb.
AND GAY. this is typical dumb guy closet case projection.
Hopefully he won’t come out and will just live in miserable isolation and a quick downward spiral. It won’t be long before no one remembers him.
Normally, I would say that an actor’s personal life & beliefs have nothing to do with his artistic work. However, isn’t this a show that supposedly prides itself in being so diverse? Considering there are numerous talented African-American actors willing & able to replace Washington in a nano-second (including Eriq LaSalle, Taye Diggs, Orlando Jones to name a few), he should be smart enough to shut his trap. It it had been the other way around & Washington had been called the N-word, there would have been an instant firing…
I’m very conflicted, because while I love Grey’s, I find it hard to watch a show where cast members and apparently the creator condone this kind of behaviour. Both Washington and Shonda Rhimes need to address this situation, apologise, and then he needs to be punted from the series.
Good for Isaiah. I have great respect for his not apologizing. Today’s world and especially California is too politically correct. The constitution say nothing about political correctness, but it does say something about freedom of speech.
Sincerely,
ihateukfans2@hotmail.com
I think that this scuffle can finally give Shonda and the rest of the writers a good reason to move Burke out of the Seattle Grace hospital.
I’ve match season 1 and 2 on DVD last month. While watching scenes with Burke and George I always had the comment on the back on my mind. It wasn’t as bad with the other characters as he’s still a good actor and the character is fun. But do I want him of the show… if they find a good story line, hell ya!
Let’s face it, if Patrick Dempsey had said it, he would have been pink-slipped months ago. So should Isaiah.
A helicopter will take off Burke’s arm, so he can’t perform surgery, then another one will fall on top of him, killing off him off. Hey it worked on ER……
Even better! He’ll get hammered in the bar across the street and George will drive him home, only to get in a terrible accident, killing off Burke! (Close to L&O when they killed off Jill Hennessy’s character ADA Claire Kincaid)
Hey – he can get FIRED by the Chief, then ask if it’s becasue he’s gay! (Another L&O reference, when Elisabeth Rohm’s Serena Southerlyn left the series.)
I could go on all day……
>^..^<
Tell ABC what you think!
Stephen.McPherson@abc.com. Or you can call him at 818.460.7200
From what I saw of the press conference, I got the impression that Isiah used the “f” word as a challenge to the media, like, “If you’re going to ask about that incident on set, ask about it in a straigtforward manner and stop dancing around the topic.” I felt that he was giving his answer once and for all. Then again, only the cast and crew know about any other on-set tension. I LOVE T.R. Knight and I hope that Washington was being homophobic. Isiah is a talented actor and it would be a shame if the charming, classy Dr. Burke he plays on T.V. was really a hate-spewer.
ihateukfans… nice. Are you sure you’re smart enough to be using the internet? You should stick to TV, little man. …btw, hate to burst your ignorant bubble but.. santa claus isn’t real and professional wrestlers are acting. Sorry! Oh yeah, and hey, it’s OK that you secretly fantasize about giving Brett Fahvre a ‘happy ending’. We all support you.
Isaiah Washington is gay.
All you need to do is keep this in perspective. If someone called Washington the N-word, they’d be off the show. Look at Michael Richards. Look at Mel Gibson. Washington’s words are the same kind of hate speech and shouldn’t be tolerated. To not categorize them the same further marginalizes the gay community. “You’re not important enough to offense to slurs!” is the message you’re sending if you don’t make Washington accountable.
I said it before, the ONLY way any homosexuals MIGHT feel properly vindicated is if Isaiah appears on a moderate battle ground, which I think would be Oprah. T.R. got to pine to the lesbian talk show host, Ellen, so let Isaiah speak to the African-American queen of the couch, Oprah, who coincidentially, runs on ABC. Of course Oprah may be more sympathetic to Isaiah, but if she feels as strongly towards this as she does over people using the imfamous derogatory N-word, then she could very well hand Mr. Washington his behind a la James Frey after she discovered his memoir was a sham. I think this fair, and also allows ABC to maximize all the ratings & publicity since this stemmed from one of their shows’ sets. I truly feel Oprah getting involved, and Isaiah coming clean and admitting he DID say it, apologizing to T.R. and crying to Oprah after she chastises him would make for execellent televison. If ABC can hold all this off to sweeps in March, they’d be looking at unbelievable numbers!
Kick him off – his character’s storyline sucks anyways
Shonda made this mess when she balked at firing him the first time. She must have had some involvement with the snowjob that made the controversy go away… so now it’s on record, for everyone to hear, and his castmates are no longer nodding their heads in time with Rhimes.
The guy does nothing to help himself. He’s talented but arrogant beyond use of his talents. And he clearly thinks that Knight is some kind of second-class citizen compared to himself.
It would be hypocritical for me to say, ‘chuck him’, as I once had my own ugly ‘mystery-bigot’ incident that cost me a job (rightfully so), but I was humbled and I learned from my experience.
I just don’t see Washington evolving from this, and his actions suggest he considers his own ego more important than the dignity of his castmates. He needs counseling… and he needs to be fired immediately.
Indiana!! hahahaha! Oh my god, what a hell hole. They must hand out masters degrees with the happy meals. Isn’t that like going to the Virgin Islands for college? who is this idiot? I agree with closet. Except I am sad to hear about Santa.
ABC reacts!
http://community.tvguide.com/thread.jspa?threadID=700017086
I don’t wish for anyone to compromise their individual opinion, as that is what makes our nation great, but tact and diplomacy need to be observed. Mr Washington ignored both with his comment at The Golden Globes. He should leave the show before it is driven into the ground right along with him.
I’m sorry, but I don’t understand why Mr. Washington needs to redeem himself. People seem to forget that freedom of speech is a double-edged sword; people are going to occasionally say things you disagree with, or are even appalled by. And as far as this “intolerance” hogwash, just remember that the original definition of “tolerance” meant to put up with something – not endorse it, approve of it, etc. South Park addressed this quite cogently a few years back.
Thanks, Dominique!
I am tired of f—– being equated with n——, especially if you cannot be called one or either or both. Really, you don’t know unless you are. I am tired of homosexuality being presupposed as a form of whiteness, implicit in a lot of people’s argument about this debacle. Obviously it bothers me he’s homophobic. Obviously it bothers me the tangential racism behind calling for his head. Neither surprises me. As a gay black man, I am torn. If for no other reason – To paraphrase Angela Davis: when the white gays get their freedom and equality, I am still going to be carrying a broom. It is interesting to note that a) Washington played a gay black man in Spike Lee’s “Get on the Bus” and b) well, he doth protest too much, and we know our own, and he has always given me gay energy. Maybe Eddie Murphy or LL Cool J or Wentworth Miller or Busta Rhymes should just give him a hug. Brother love saved me. Amen.
if the allegations by T.R are true and ABC knew of it Washington should of been fired.. like any job harresment should not be tolerated.. i was shocked to see washington utter that word again… it seemed like he was responding to it before it was asked but that was not the way.. if you didnt call him the F word well now you did… T.R i think has remained pretty calm about the situation and well he had to pick up conversation after the golden globe incident .. a shame they are a stellar cast.. i do believe washington should be reprimanded …it appears he sees it as a joke…
Oh yeah, he’s gonna get fired. There’s no way ABC is keepping him after this PR nightmare. He called T.R. a homophobic slur in front the cast and crew and then lies about that it and saying that he never did. So why should ABC keep him? *Sighs* I mean you would think as a 40-something African-American, Washington would be more acceptable to people who are different in anyway but I guess he’s one of those black who still think gay people as demons or something. Just sad.
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