At this point, it just feels like we're watching Isaiah Washington self-destruct. Since being fired from Grey's Anatomy, he has said some pretty stupid stuff. But this one takes the cake.Washington gave an interview to the Houston Chronicle, his hometown newspaper, where he says that actor T.R. Knight is the one who should have been fired from Grey's Anatomy. Sure, Washington is the one who practically got into a fistfight on set with co-star Patrick Dempsey after Washington used a derogatory gay slur referring to Knight. But, Washington says, Knight went on to have the nerve to be offended by it and ended up creating a negative work environment.
Plus, Washington alleges, Knight was just angling for a raise. Washington says that Knight is lying about even hearing the comment because, he says, "I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick. I apologized for that. We shook hands and went back to work."
And, once again, he blamed the media when he used the same gay slur in front of reporters at the Golden Globes. He says it was "taken out of context". How is that possible, exactly? He said the word... again... into a microphone... with a room full of reporters. Video is here.
While everything I've heard and read sounds like Washington is the bad guy, he does make a good point about defending his own honor. He said that he kept quiet like ABC asked and he still got fired and only now does he have the opportunity to try and clear his name. And, hey, we probably don't know the entire story.
At this point, I am not sure anyone is going to believe Isaiah Washington. It doesn't matter anymore if the incident has been blown out of proportion. It's really time for him to stop trying to clear his name, shut the hell up, and appreciate that he's even working right now. So far, he doesn't seem to be doing himself any favors.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
6-21-2007 @ 3:37PM
David said...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
*breathes*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
He is crazy!!! I mean honestly!
If he went up to a woman and grabbed her ass, they should fire her because she was offened!?!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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6-21-2007 @ 3:37PM
drew said...
some one shut this ass hole up!
mission accomplished: WE HATE YOU! now get over yourself
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6-21-2007 @ 3:51PM
spoileranonymous2 said...
He broke the #1 rule of working in Hollywood:
Never, ever, ever, EVER let on that you don't like gay people. EVER. Saying anything bad about gay people in Hollywood is even worst than saying anything good about Bush. Cardinal sin, Wash. Ya shoulda learned by now that Hollywood is very "open-minded" -- that is, unless you disagree with them.
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6-21-2007 @ 3:57PM
WhizGidget said...
*sigh* What a stupid stupid man.
T.R. Knight had the *nerve* to be offended for being called by a derogatory slur? So, if the tables are turned would it be ok to call Washington by the "n" word? I think not.
No one's going to want to hire this guy shortly... he should disappear for awhile. Although I have to say - he was good on Grey's - he acted like a reasonable, calm, and decent human being. Considering his behavior of late, that's got to be one of the best acting jobs ever.
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6-21-2007 @ 3:58PM
David said...
spoileranonymous2 you're a dumbass. Yet again if someone called Washington a niggar that person would have been fired too, there is nothing special there except that they fired him later.
He called someone a faggot, and got into a fight! Fighting gets you fired. It's clear no one on set likes Washington, so they fired him. Everyone likes the gay guy.
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6-21-2007 @ 4:02PM
lorilei13 said...
Good freakin' lord, he's an idiot. Does he even have a publicist? Because I'm sure they're ready to crawl into a hole.........where he should be.
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6-21-2007 @ 4:05PM
Roger Rees said...
@David,
Let's be clear, please. Fighting doesn't get you fired. Calling someone a faggot, nearly getting into a fistfight, going to rehab, publicly apologizing, grovelling for forgiveness, apologizing again, saying the word again, and then not apologizing. I think that's it. THAT gets a person fired. Is disengenuous to say that he got fired for fighting. Let's be honest.
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6-21-2007 @ 4:33PM
Scott said...
Wow. I honestly didn't think he could do more damage to his reputation. But saying that Knight should've been fired instead? Just wow. I've never even seen this guy's acting, but I've grown to hate him for his increasingly hateful and stupid comments. Exactly who would hire this guy now? I guess he can do commentary on Fox News, that's about it.
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6-21-2007 @ 4:39PM
Roger Rees said...
@Scott,
Can you please explain to the rest of the class why Washington is now qualified to do commentary for Fox News?
Thanks.
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6-21-2007 @ 4:43PM
bsimmons said...
Great! I am already worried will hate my hometown because of all the oil companies. Now, I find out this jerk is from Houston too. Awesome!
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6-21-2007 @ 4:55PM
tv junkie said...
once again, rehab doesn't work in Hollywoodland... and where the hell is his publicist? didn't he hire some crisis-management people to help him to shut up?
thank you, ABC, for getting rid of this jerk from your top-rated drama.
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6-21-2007 @ 5:36PM
Anna Johns said...
This is from Aussiello at TV Guide back in January:
"In the first clear sign that Isaiah Washington hasn't gone completely bonkers, sources confirm that the embattled, F-bomb-droppin' Grey's Anatomy doc has fired his longtime publicist and retained 42 West's Allan Mayer and Kelly Mullens, both of whom have a background in crisis situations. (Mayer has reportedly handled such scandal-prone celebs as R Kelly, Tommy Lee and Paula Poundstone.)"
Apparently they need to tighten their leash.
-Anna
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6-21-2007 @ 5:42PM
Scott said...
Roger, I said that Washington could possibly do commentary on Fox News because I tried to think of a place on TV where anti-gay comments and attitude are welcome, even commonplace, and Fox News just came to mind. They still have Ann Coulter on from time to time, don't they?
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6-21-2007 @ 5:52PM
Amy said...
SHUT UP!!!! SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!!!!!!
Holy freakin' Christ, every day it's something new from this assache of a man!!! Has it occurred to him that he wasn't fired for the gay slur that he apologized for, but rather because he's a pompous, ego maniac self-serving ass who is UNPLEASANT TO WORK WITH & NOBODY WANTS TO BE AROUND???
And he acts like he's the first tv actor to get fired from a gig. Why does he think this?? Can anybody answer this? And how come in all of these interviews he's saying how BUSSSSYYYY he is pouring over all of the offers coming in? He can't be that flippin' busy running his mouth every damn day!!!
ASS!!!
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6-21-2007 @ 6:55PM
pattykins said...
seriously, if TRKnight said the N-word, he would've gotten 100X more crap than this... so gay slur or not, those words are hurtful... period. Common sense people!
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6-21-2007 @ 7:23PM
iamhoff said...
Each story comes out and you think, ok, he can't possibly say anything else to further damage his reputation. And then he does! Apparently he's got new publicists who specialize in "crisis mode" issues. I guess he hadn't gotten up to their starting level yet. I wish him luck in making the situation worse. Ya gotta admit, this is some of the funniest crap to come around in a while.
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6-21-2007 @ 7:45PM
jake said...
I guess this really just shows the character that Isiah is. I don't see how he thinks anything can be gained from this. He should have just left TR Knight out of this -- he would have gotten farther. Guess Gay rehab doesn't work.
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6-21-2007 @ 10:11PM
BStu said...
Does he not want to work again? Seriously, had he just taken the firing with grace, he still had a career. No matter how awful he was, this industry forgives. He's have landed another show next year if not a slot on an existing show this year. Now? Guess he wanted an early retirement because he's rapidly making himself radioactive. Who would want to work with him now?
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6-21-2007 @ 11:59PM
queenb said...
I don't care what he said.I watched the show for entertainment. His "character" was one of the best on the show. I'm so sick to death of the whole whiny George, Izzy & Meredith characters. I will tune out for good now!
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6-22-2007 @ 12:40AM
Tari Akpodiete said...
Well, over on her blog, relentless self-promoter and Black Lesbian 'activist', Jasmyne Cannick, who seems to specialize in giving homophobes who are Black a free pass, is advocating for this man to get his job back.
Apparently, it's irrelevant that he physically assaults and verbally abuses his co-workers. According to her world-view, apparently, he is the victim here, of the white racist gay elite of Hollywood. And she's not alone: to date, almost 3500 people have signed the petition she's started.
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