How Do You Feel About Isaiah Washington Getting Fired?
It’s been a few days since the big news that Isaiah Washington will not be returning to Grey’s next season. I’m still irritated by the news. I feel like he’s gone from bad guy to victim in the span of a few months, and I don’t think it’s much of a coincidence that T.R. Knight was asked back a day or two before news that Isaiah had been fired leaked out.
Do you guys think there’s still alot of drama going on that the media isn’t reporting? Or was it simply Dr. Burke’s time to depart? Was there anything that could’ve saved Isaiah or was he doomed from the moment he spoke the F word in public?
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POSTED IN: Commentary, Isaiah Washington
192 opinions for How Do You Feel About Isaiah Washington Getting Fired?
beatrice
Jun 14, 2007 at 2:55 pm
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?a47wash
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?weluviw
beatrice
Jun 14, 2007 at 2:56 pm
i want isaiah comeback and TR and izie out
JCW
Jun 14, 2007 at 5:43 pm
The entire situation is sad. It’s sad that there were flare-ups on the set in the first place, it’s sad that Isaiah lost his job, and it’s sad that a handful of frequent posters on this blog are advocating an anti gay agenda by way of retaliation.
For those posters using words like “gay mafia”, it might be a good idea to remember that Isaiah’s physical violence was directed towards a heterosexual male co-star, and that had as much to do with his being let go as any other factor.
Using this occassion to bash gays merely reinforces the stereotype that Blacks are intolerant towards gay people, and that is particularly unfortunate coming from people who have suffered from intolerance themselves.
Michelle
Jun 14, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I want Isaiah back… If not… I will not longer watch Grey’s… BOYCOTT the show.. I watch the spinoff with Madison!
ISAIAH FAN
Jun 14, 2007 at 7:34 pm
I think this was a big mistake! The writers just caved to pressure from network execs who themselves are probly on the downlow. OH well Greys lost!!! Bad Move Shonda u should retake that class on how not to be a sell out and be true to yourself.
PS TR Knight is a whiny, wimpy individual. fire him!
traci
Jun 14, 2007 at 9:02 pm
i think its bull crap that he isnt coming back…what the heck do they want the show to fall apart..i mean the main charecters are leaving next thing we know the new grey intern is gonna be the new greys anatomy narrator like are they stupid i mean kate walsh is one thing to lose but washington has been there since day one..ABC needs to get their act together now
Jazz
Jun 14, 2007 at 9:08 pm
The firing of Mr. Washington was a bad move. He and Sandra Oh had a major chemistry; subtle but effective. Mr. Washington can do more with a single look than a lot can with 3 pages of dialogue.
I am not sure that I will be watching the next season. I enjoyed the character of Preston Burke and I will miss him terribly.
Maybe the powers that be will reconsider.
By the way, I am MORE THAN TIRED OF GEORGE AND IZZIE. Izzie started out good but has gotten to be a whiner. Isn’t there enough of that?
ximena
Jun 14, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Ditto all comments above. Isaiah should be back!!!! the only romance in grey’s anatomy that makes sense is burke - yang. Grey’s wont be the same without dr. burke. His character is more interesting than all the men in GA. People make mistake. Get over it!!!!!!!
Airene Jana
Jun 15, 2007 at 1:26 am
The ONE and ONLY reason why I watch GREY’s ANATOMY is because of the most effective and charming characters of Dr Preston Burke and Dr Cristina Yang…Firing Isaiah Washington from the show is a GREAT LOSS to ABC and Grey’s Anatomy…The show will still ok without him but I think it would not as great as Season 1,2 and 3.
Burke and Cristina were the most lovely couple in the show…
Dr Burke is the best “doctor” in Seatlle Grace Hospital.
I’m gonna miss you Dr Burke…
You are the best…
Airene Jana
Jun 15, 2007 at 1:30 am
sick and tired with izzie and george…kick them out from the show as well…
Janine
Jun 15, 2007 at 3:56 am
i’m not happy with this :(
in europe we love burke too!
im sad that 2 big characters are leaving.
Vanessa
Jun 15, 2007 at 4:38 am
Seriousy, get burke back!!!!!
Cherrelle
Jun 15, 2007 at 6:44 am
I totally agree with everyone else, especially the BOYCOTT. I think it is totally unfair that they fired Isaiah. He is such a great actor as well as a wonderful assest to the show. Grey’s won’t be the same and I honestly think the show will go downhill with out him. I honestly hope it does because everyone makes mistakes and them firing him only shows that they are not willing to forgive people when they make mistakes. When Tara the former Miss America made a ton of mistakes, everyone forgave her and she kept her crown, so why couldn’t Isaiah keep his job?
jamey
Jun 15, 2007 at 7:18 am
Isaiah is one of the best you guys made a big mistake !!!
Gracie
Jun 15, 2007 at 7:30 am
Well yanno I won’t mince any words here…It pisses me off that they, whether it be Shonda or ABC fired a man for using a racial slur yet one of their main characters is called “the Nazi” and they condone adultery like it is just the hippest in thing to do…so yanno if you are going to decide to grow some damn morals utilize them across the board and not just when they seem fitting. What a bunch of hypocrites????? I thought this was just ca-ca. I am about over the whole damn show.
patcat
Jun 15, 2007 at 9:51 am
I agree with Gracie. The show is very hypocritical with the continual sex shown every week along with the refernce to the NAZI. My teenage daughter liked season 1, but I can’t let her watch it any longer. Too much sex, not enough story.
I also think Dr. Burke was one of the best, if not THE BEST actor on the show.
I still love McDreamy, because well, he is Dreamy, but I think Burke was the best actor ion the show.
Without Burke and with the rumor that Derek and
Meredith will never end up together, well, what’s left???
You no longer have a show.
Well, now you really have no show left !!!
CC
Jun 15, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Yes , I must agree with most of the above !
It’s a real shame that they can’t forgive him :-(
It prooves what the world has come to again , no forgivness !!!!!!!Like no one has ever made a mistake hah !! I love the show , but this is going to far , just tipical isn’t it !!!!!!
peyton
Jun 15, 2007 at 12:24 pm
what he said to t.r wasnt fair, even if its true, and even if its over.
I’m going to miss burke.
but look…
if hes not a good person, then he doesnt deserve to be on the show.
I’m sorry if no one agrees with me but thats just my oppinion.
LaLa
Jun 15, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I don’t feel like Isaiah Washington should have been fired. People have done a lot worse than make a stupid comment..they need to bring him back!!!
JCW
Jun 15, 2007 at 2:27 pm
As I’ve said before, the whole situation is sad.
Shonda has spoken out on the subject:
“Since the announcement was made last Friday, Rhimes has remained silent on the situation — until now.
“I think there have been things that have happened that have been within the family that stay within the family,” Rhimes told “Access’” Shaun Robinson at the Crystal + Lucy Awards honoring Women in Film.”
It seems to me that without going in to detail, she’s hinting pretty broadly that there was more wrong behind the scenes than what the public has heard about.
Again - it’s sad, but it certainly seems there’s more to it than just the spat in October.
Corrie
Jun 15, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Oh grow up you guys. Shondra knows what she is doing! And the show can survive without Washington.. He was becoming somewhat of a jerk anyways. And for those of you that say Knight is a whiner… Why don’t you put yourself in his shoes. And then re-evaluate the situation. He has not been saying anything or making a huge deal of the whole thing.. it is ABC. Oh and Heigl is an amazing and talented actress. Those of you who want her to leave are just shallow. Again… Grow Up.
You guys are the complainers.
JCW
Jun 15, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Thank you Corrie!
We don’t know everything that’s gone on, but we DO know that neither T.R. or Katherine has been reported as attempting to choke a coworker or using derogatory names in the workplace. So why do so many of these folks want to turn it around and blame them for what’s happened?
It reminds me of when a man is on trial for rape, and his attorney tries to say it was the woman’s fault because she was “asking for it”
It just makes no sense.
Shonda and ABC had their reasons, and she’s certainly hinted that we don’t know all of them and are not going to find out from her. For them to let go of a major character played by a very talented actor you KNOW they had good reason - and not just the stuff that we heard about, if you bother to read her statement.
Kaelee
Jun 15, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I think it is totally fair. I mean, obviously there was more than just the stuff that happened in October and more than the Golden Globes. If he is a bad person, he doesn’t deserve the job. And it seemed like it was his time to go because he was gone by the end of the finale. I agree the show won’t be the same and Isaiah and Sandra Oh did have great chemistry and so did their characters, but Isaiah said horrible things about T.R.. And anyone who calls someone names because of their sexual orientation, race, gender, etc., doesn’t deserve to stay on a show like Grey’s.
cooks
Jun 16, 2007 at 12:35 am
i really wouldn’t miss burke, but i think its unfair to dismiss isaiah despite his public acts of atonement
blah
Jun 16, 2007 at 9:17 am
he doesnt rly have an important part in the show,
hes rly boring
im glad hes gone
patcat
Jun 16, 2007 at 12:45 pm
i am responding to peytons remark above. Who ever said an actor has to be a “good person” to be on television or in movies? First time I ever heard that!
Teri802nj
Jun 16, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I think it’s really sad that we have become a race of unforgiving people. It’s true, we all make mistakes and it’s true that no one’s perfect. Isaiah apologized. Move on with the show. Shonda…you said that the cast is a family. Well, when a member of your family makes a mistake, do you disown him/her?? You should be ashamed of yourself. Bring him back.
angry fan
Jun 16, 2007 at 3:57 pm
what the hell this is so sad!!! i loved isaiah on the show and i loved the relationship he was in with christina!!!! ahhh im so over what he “said” i really dont care…shonda should not let personal conflict get in the way of the show she is robbing the fans!!! im not sure if ill be back for season 4 …and by the way who cares what kind of person they are just so long as the characters are played well??
joan
Jun 16, 2007 at 5:52 pm
I will NOT watch the show anymore. I was getting sick of George and Izzie. Liked Burke.
Tahisha
Jun 16, 2007 at 8:48 pm
I want to know can we petition for Isaiah to come back because he is a major part of the show…
Aingon Atelia
Jun 16, 2007 at 9:00 pm
I’m ticked that they won’t have Burke anymore, but how do you suppose they’ll get rid of him?
How about him dying when his car gets rear-ended by a Pride parade float? :)
cooks
Jun 17, 2007 at 6:29 am
i think the way they will “get rid of him” is gonna just gonna be someone telling cristina that burke has just left. at the end of the last episode you could see that burke did well plan this
Niamh
Jun 17, 2007 at 6:57 am
I think that u are all wrong. McDreamy, Meredith, George and Izzy are all better characters then burke and I am glad that he is gone. Burke was the most boring character in the programme. There was no real chemistry between himself and Christina and can’t compare to the relationship between McDreamy and Meredith.
JUSTin
Jun 17, 2007 at 11:57 am
Right on Shonda! I am so glad that they sacked Isaiah’s ass. Firstly, he was a trouble maker on set continuously. He is arrogant and so full of himself that the other actors are uncomfortable around him. I get this from someone who chauffeurs the actors to and from the set although it is admittedly hearsay. As far as his acting goes, he is the worst one of the bunch…..the one scene when he compares himself to Goddddd and calls himself an excellent surgeon almost made me gag and it seemed that the sentiments written for his character were not too far off the mark from how the actor thinks about himself. After he was canned he made a comment about “how can they do that after I did all the things they asked like donate to a charity and do a Public Service Announcement!” This in itself proved his true colors since he obviously did those things just as a way to keep his job with no sincerity behind it whatsoever. What a JERK! I commend TR and Katherine for how they handled the whole fiasco with dignity and standing up for what they believe in. I only have one thing to say to Isaiah: Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out!
Ash
Jun 17, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I agree that we don’t know what all went on behind the scenes, and that could have contributed to both Shonda and ABC wanting Washington to be let go. Also, from what I’ve read about the general arrogance and inflated egos of the cast since the show’s success, I think this was also a message to them that they need to shape up, because they are ALL expendable, even Ellen Pompeo (who considers herself the star of the show, as she reportedly made point of in her anger at not being “consulted” about Kate Walsh’s spin-off) . It seems to me that the addition of Lexi on the show didn’t just come at a convenient time to complicate the MerDer situation, but to also have a backup Grey in case it came to that.
vstewart
Jun 18, 2007 at 2:19 am
I loved Burke and I think Isiaih is an incredible actor BUT if any blue collar worker had done what he’s said to have done (attack a fellow employee physically and use a slur against another) any boss would put him on probation. By using the slur AGAIN in a room full of reporters he deserves to be fired.
But I’ll miss his character a ton.
brenda ingram
Jun 18, 2007 at 9:30 am
I am not going to watch Grey’s next season- Burke was one of the best acted roles on the show- and I am really sick of the story line between George and Iizze, the season finale was not encouraging- I vote to bring Burke character back- that’s the only way I am going to watch next season-
Annie Small
Jun 18, 2007 at 10:34 am
Burke was one of the few characters who actually had a storyline worth watching, and he could act. The last season was nothing more than another “melrose place” and a series of ‘lets all sleep with each other at least once’. As for Izzie and George - they bore me to tears. I was on the fence about watching next season, but without Burke, count me out. As for the spin off, that looks like a B show with B actors - out for that one too!
Carol
Jun 18, 2007 at 11:04 am
Isaiah contract was not renewed because of the
TK slur, ABC sources said it was because of a
history of anger issues, arrogance, physical assualt and bad behavior on the set. He dug his
own grave then nite of the GG’s. He has been an embarassment and constant source of tension.
Corrie
Jun 18, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Aingon Atelia - I knew when watching the season finale that there was a good chance that when Isiah walked out at the church it would be the last time you saw him. There might be some loose ends tied up in the season premier this fall but you won’t actually see him.
vstewart - You are bang on with everything you said. He is a great actor, but in any other job situation he would have been given a chance then fired.. why should it be any different for Isiah?
Carol - The incidents you just named are the proof that there was more going on behind the set and if these are all true then he did deserve to be fired, whether or not anyone thinks he was a good actor or not.
All in all I think the right decision was being made. And to those of you who say you are not going to watch Season four… I would be money that you will at least check it out to see what it’s like. If you are a fan of the show your not about to just stop watching it.
brenda ingram
Jun 18, 2007 at 1:03 pm
How much are paying the fans- like myself who will not be “checking it out” . I was the edge with this show as it was- now without Burke’s character there really is no story line worth watching.
mcdreamy lover
Jun 18, 2007 at 1:38 pm
The first mistake ABC made was not having Kate Walsh on Grey’s it’s good that she got a spinoff but grey’s is better with her. Then Isaiah Washington getting fired. They made him do all of the “gay love” stuff just so the show wouldn’t get bad publicity they were never going to let him back. Isaiah should sue them . (however you spell that) If they show previews for grey’s and they have Burke in them or if they are using him in anything to promote season 4 and I was him I would sue because they let him go.
mcdreamy lover
Jun 18, 2007 at 1:39 pm
WE SHOE STOP WATCHING ABC UNTILL ISAIAH WASHINGTON IS BACK ON GREY’S
Carol
Jun 18, 2007 at 1:54 pm
IW and SO had the only decent story line in Season 3 and unless Shonda and crew come up
with a better story arcs this fall there may not
be a G/A on ABC. ABC did not fire IW, they did
not renew his contract. Isaiah should have done
rehab and the PSA (his idea) for his own sake.
If he’s complaining about it, it was obviously not sincere. There is no evidence ABC ever promised to renew the option. I think he is a
fine actor, and will be missed but ABC had no
choice as he was a liability in too many ways.
mcdreamy lover
Jun 18, 2007 at 2:07 pm
READ THIS
It was also reported that a new male character would be introduced. This character would somehow be in “competition” with Dr. Derek Shepherd. [11]
In the official blog, creator Shonda Rhimes gave a few clues as to plotlines for season four, indicating that Mark Sloan will be given a bigger role and that the aftermath of the finale events for Derek Shepherd and Cristina Yang will be “interesting to watch.”[12]
WHAT IF THE LAST PART MEANS DEREK AND YANG WILL HOOK UP L.O.L. (JUST A THOUGHT) BETTER NOT HAPPEN
Airene Jana
Jun 18, 2007 at 9:35 pm
brenda ingram…
good call…i love burke soooooooo much…
keep on supporting him ok…
mcdreamy lover…good call too…
yang with derek..oh..no no..yang is ONLY for burke…
oomfoomfoo
Jun 19, 2007 at 6:56 am
If you grab a coworker by the neck at the office, more than likely you’ll be fired. If you sexually or racially harass someone at the office, you’ll possibly be fired too.
I don’t see what’s wrong with what they did. It’s a corporation, it’s a place of business, they did what a lot of other companies would’ve done. Simple as that.
The show may suffer for it, or it may not. Who knows.
Marie
Jun 19, 2007 at 11:24 am
The poor morals demonstrated in the show conflict with the moral outrage of ABC. I have stopped watching the daytime dramas for the same reason. ABC is pro homosexual as anyone can see just watching their line up. It is no wonder ABC let Mr. Washington go. TR on the other hand could have stepped up to defend the firing but instead he must have been whining behind the scenes to get Washington fired. If TR believed his “chosen lifestyle” was acceptable, why was he hiding in the closet in the first place. I do not condone personal attacks. However, as we all know actors are tempermental people and as such are prone to out bursts. We never heard what provoked Washington or what else was said during the conflict. We just hear that poor TR had is secret told and his cover blown. An unnatural act is just that, unnatural. Its time that people recognize their innate propensity to fulfill their physical desires and accept the fact that some behaviors are just not acceptable to the general public no matter how much it is shoved down our throats. And on a similar note; I am tired of the show and the fact that Izzie (tramp) is chasing and catching a married George all the time. Everyone sleeps with everyone and marriages aren’t sacred. The firing of Mr. Washington just sealed my decision and that of my co-workers to stop watching yet another ABC series. I suppose now they have gained many more viewers who support the gay rights agenda seeking to over throw the moral decency; or what’s left of it, in this country.
Corrie
Jun 19, 2007 at 2:02 pm
mcdreamy lover - where did you get this information from? do you have a web site?
Carol
Jun 19, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Why do so many of you continue to only consider this a homophobic issue? This is also about anger issues, tension on the set and arrogance that were issues before the GG fiasco. He is a fine actor, he had a great role but seems incapable of controlling his temper
on GA or other sets prior to the October scuffle. Even Isaiah stated he did not expect
to hear from his cast mates, which says a lot.
Iffy
Jun 20, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I’m upset that he was fired. He has done more than enough to make up for his mistakes. He has apologized, he has done work with the gay community, he was even in a commercial! I don’t know what the show will do without him. I watch all the comments people are making about the firing, and I say that next season is going to be tough for ABC and for the writers, considering all the fans outraged by them firing Isaiah Washington.
Cindy
Jun 21, 2007 at 7:23 am
I can’t believe he was fired! Now there’s no more romance on Greys………except George and Izzie’s *yawn* (why can’t they just stay best friends?!?)
I mean sure maybe Isaiah did something “bad,” but it doesn’t mean it has to effect the show. (as they say there’s no such thing as bad publicity)
Grey’s will never be the same……..
JCW
Jun 21, 2007 at 9:45 am
OK….Now I’ve had it - here’s his latest quote on the subject:
“ISAIAH WASHINGTON was let go from ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” on June 7, but now the actor is saying it’s his former co-star T.R. KNIGHT who should have gotten the axe.
“They fired the wrong guy,” he says in an interview with the Houston Chronicle, telling them it should have been Knight. “I have to clear my name. I’ll start from the beginning. I’m telling everything. So here’s the truth.”
The “Grey’s Anatomy” controversy began last October when Washington used an anti-gay slur during an on-set disagreement with co-star PATRICK DEMPSEY. The heat continued in January when he repeated the slur while answering a reporter’s question at the Golden Globes.
Washington tells the Chronicle that Knight created the idea that the slur was targeted at him. Washington also says that Knight likely wanted a salary increase and a bigger part on the show.
Knight acknowledged that he was gay after the incident and told ELLEN DEGENERES that everyone on the set heard the slur, something Washington says is “a lie.”
“I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick,” he says. “I apologized for that. We shook hands and went back to work.”
Washington says he believes he wasn’t let go for making homophobic slurs. “I did everything I said I would do,” he says. I offered to go to counseling, to do a public service announcement. I wanted everyone to know I was remorseful.”
He says he was shocked when he got the call from creator SHONDA RHIMES about being released and is now considering a lawsuit. “My livelihood, my honor, my dignity and my name have been so challenged.”
Let’s see….. the undisputed statement he made on set was “I’m not your little faggot like T.R.!”
That’s NOT calling T.R. a name - just because it wasn’t said to his face - just within his hearing?
And now he’s even calling T.R. a liar? And No one in the cast can even dispute him now because you KNOW ABC has given them orders not to speak on the subject.
Isaiah Washington is now officially a DOUCHE! Trying to turn the tables and play victim when he was the abusive one in the first place. Not ONE THING HE DID to “make up” for the incident was sincere.
He was rightfully fired. Why? Because he’s a DOUCHE!!!!!
JEANINE
Jun 21, 2007 at 12:09 pm
I won’t be watching next year without him. This situation saddens me.
I look forward to future project with Mr. Washington - he was one of the very finest actors among many excellent ones on this show.
NIK
Jun 21, 2007 at 1:20 pm
This is complete BS. If someone had said the N-word on the set, they wouldn’t have gotten fired and Shonda Rhimes is black. ABC is full of it. Mr. Washington was extremely remorseful and abided by the rules given until the end of the season. He needs to sue. If Yang and McDreamy hook up, then I am so through with Grey’s. Izzie and George are dull characters. Despite the drama, TR Knight should have been fired because his character is annoying and lame. I don’t know why
Shonda didn’t write his character as being gay. It might have been better twist then Izzie & him hookup. Kathrine’s character quest for love has gotten old. Enough already. Denny, Alex, and now George. YUCK!! They could have at least gave her McSteamy!!!
JCW
Jun 21, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Nik -
“Mr. Washington was extremely remorseful and abided by the rules given until the end of the season.”
Uh….yeah. He was “remorseful” like the thief who’s not sorry they stole, but terribly sorry they got caught!
And now he’s trying to paint the whole thing like it was some big conspiracy on T.R.’s part? Give me a break! Coming out in Hollywood or business in general limits your opportunities to this day.
Now he’s just piling insult on top of injury. If he had any brains he’d have learned to just keep his mouth shut by now - he only reveals more of why he got let go every time he makes a new statement.
Sue
Jun 21, 2007 at 4:17 pm
It’s a shame Isaiah isn’t coming back. I really liked his character. Seems obvious something is going on behind the scenes. Too bad. I wish him well in his career.
ihateYOU!
Jun 21, 2007 at 8:49 pm
JCW,
I THINK YOU SHOULD BE DR PRESTON BURKE FOR THE NEXT SEASON…SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE SO DAMN NOBLE AND THE MOST RIGHT PERSON TO REPLACE HIM…
GOOD LUCK!
ihateYOU!
Jun 21, 2007 at 8:54 pm
MY DEAR JCW…
I THINK YOU SHOULD BE THE NEXT DR PRESTON BURKE FOR SEASON 4 OF GREY’S…SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE SO DAMN NOBLE AND YOU ARE THE MOST RIGHT PERSON TO REPLACE HIS CHARACTER…
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT AND NEVER BELIEVE OR FORGIVE OTHER PEOPLE BUT YOUR DAMN SELF!!!
JCW
Jun 21, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Dear ihateYOU!,
I liked Washington on the series. I was surprised when the whole “Dr. McChokey/Dr. McHomophobe”
thing came up. I hoped Isaiah was sincere when he apologized and sought to make things right.
But…..
His actions since being let go - in particular his latest comments suggesting that he is a “victim” and that T.R. Knight should have been let go instead have eroded any sympathy I had for him.
Any doubt as to his real personality and why he was actually let go are slowly being eroded by his continued statements to the press.
I was certainly prepared to “forgive” Mr. Washington, however his continued public statements only prove to me that he is everything bad that he is reputed to be.
If you support the actions and words of Mr. Washington, I can only say that I hope that YOU get stuck working with such an individual in YOUR workplace and we’ll see how you feel about it after that.
Ty
Jun 21, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Honestly, I cannot believe that ANYONE wants this guy back on the show. (1) He gets into a fight with the show’s most popular cast member, (2) he makes homophobic/anti-gay statements that were directed at yet another cast member, and (3) he made obscene comments in public. I feel that the public’s obsession with his anti-gay statement toward T.R. Knight as the reason for his firing is very mislead. The real issue here is that Washington has been a trouble-maker from day one, and it is about time that the show fired him!
JCW
Jun 21, 2007 at 9:20 pm
GOD BLESS YOU TY!!!!!
Honestly - I take so much crap on these boards that it’s nice to hear someone say it like it is. Sure, the guy embarrassed himself and the show at the GGs, but there was more to it - a LOT more, than the whole “gay slur” thing. A physical altercation in the workplace is bad enough without the added measure of the whole slur thing.
It really is too bad - he IS talented and was a great part of the show, But should people be forced to work with someone who has some nasty tendancies just for ratings?
Leon Rodriguez
Jun 21, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Isaiah Washington is the strongest most consistent player in the troupe. There can’t be any doubt about that. It’s absolutely RIDICULOUS that the production is forcing him out! Dr. Burke and Christina’s plotlines are so vibrant, edgey and unpredictable. If Patrick Dempsey was willing to finally shake and let it go, why, for the love of Mike, is someone on the sidelines of that argument allowed to control the PR about the incident?
When Knight went public on Ellen Degeneris’ show about the language used, executives should have had the cojones to set the record straight about who the participants of the argument were to set the record straight for Isaiah. (no pun intended and no offense meant to anyone reading this or standing near)
I’d be curious to know if Knight got a rai$e to quell his pain and $uffering.
It is such a bizarre and unforgiving world we create for our children when a sincere heartfelt apology is rendered worthless for fear of political correctness.
At what point does logic kick in?
Losing Isaiah Washington is a big black eye for the reputation of the obviously spineless executives and an ENORMOUS LOSS to the dramatic impact of the company and a betrayal of the story promise to the countless supporters and viewers. I’m not tuning in next season. I just can’t. Who can buy into a romantic plotline when all you feel is pissed off. Life is too short. There’s always the remote control to point a new path. I hope we find Isaiah Wahington on that next channel.
Leon Rodriguez
Filmmaker
JCW
Jun 21, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Leon,
I understand your argument - BUT…. have you considered what it would be like to work with Mr. Washington? As to Mr. Knight benefitting from this whole fiasco - can you give me a list of Hollywood Leading men who are openly gay? Even a list of big screen supporting actors? Or T.V.?
No?
I thought not. Knight took a chance that his career would end when he came out. He did so because everyone on the set heard the nasty remark and the tabloids were breathing down his neck.
Although it’s good Mr. Knight came out, it is unfortunate the circumstances under which it happened.
Mr. Washington used certain language in the heat of the moment that he might not have used otherwise.
He got away with it - nobody was attempting to punish him.
Yet he had to go and try and deny the incident ever happened at the GGs. Then the sh*t hit the fan.
And NOW he’s trying to put the blame on Mr. Knight.
Mr. Washington is a DOUCHE with anger management problems. He indeed may NOT be homophobic in his personal life - but, generally speaking, people who use the “F” word ARE homophobic - whether they admit it to themselves or not. No different from people who think they are racially tolorant, yet use the “N” word in anger.
treesey
Jun 21, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Look at JCW getting sympathy. You are pathetic. I see you are going around the boards with you gay white mafia rhetoric. Simply pathetic.
Mary
Jun 22, 2007 at 1:24 am
Do they have to keep persecuting Isaiah Washington for a mistake? He made an apology, went to rehab (a bit of a joke), made a public service announcement, and now he got fired. People make mistakes all the time. What will be next, jail? Words can hurt, but apologies should be accepted and people should move on.
NIK
Jun 22, 2007 at 5:27 am
TY I guess you never read about drama on TV sets. Every show has it. OC, Charmed, One Tree Hill, The Simple Life and many more. This one jumped from gossip pages to front page news because of the slur.
Carol
Jun 22, 2007 at 6:12 am
This only jumped to the front page after the GG debacle. The whole thing had been very quieted
long before that. The combination of repeating the slur and lying and joking about that nite were what made headlines. It isn’t only the slur, but the lies and cover up as well that caused the furor.
JCW
Jun 22, 2007 at 7:17 am
Oh Hey Greasy - er - I mean Treesey! You finally decided to start spreading your ignorance and bigotry on a newer post - good for you! Can’t wait to hear you blather on some more about the “gay white mafia”! Now make sure and alert a few friends so you can dominate the comments with hate speech!
Moron.
JUSTin
Jun 22, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Washington is morally weak………..he uses a slur in a heated argument with Patrick then denies it then admits it then uses it again then denies it then goes to counselling for it then denies it again then gets angry that he did all that and still loses his job! HA! HA! WEAK!!!!!!!!!!! Glad he is gone!!!!!!
Ty
Jun 22, 2007 at 11:08 pm
I also must say something about “treesey.” I just hope that he or she does not really believe her own statements! In particular, her justification for IW’s statements that “We are all racist.” Whether or not a person has a racial bias towards one class or another, it should never be TOLERATED when he uses such slurs in a way that is defamatory! And I also found “treesey’s” assertion that there is such a thing as the “gay WHITE mafia” to be laughable. Well why stop there treesey? Why isn’t there a gay Hispanic mafia, or a gay mafia which is composed of Asians? Be honest, is this really just your way of playing the race card because IW is black while TRK is white? But if I am wrong and you really do believe the diatribes you have been spewing then best of luck to you!
treesey
Jun 23, 2007 at 1:16 pm
JCW, your comments show that you are nothing but a flipflopping hypocrite. You and your gay white friends are showing that your twofaces. On the one hand you wish IW well, then you vilify him. TYPICAL gay white male acceptance and tolerance.
treesey
Jun 23, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Ty here’s a tip, if you want to address me, then do it DIRECTLY. Don’t half ass a post about me when you know I’m here on the board. No wait that’s what you gay white males do with your double speak with your sly, nasty remarks.
I could give two sh*ts if you found my comments laughable or not. I’m sure IW is laughing about the gay tolerance and acceptance as well that he’s received.
You can stick your head in the sand on subtle and blatant racism all you like. This is why gay civil rights will never be supported by me. I don’t need to play the “race card” when discriminatory whites keep showing me the deck. Unlike closeted, open gays whites who love to conveniently pull the “gay card” like the formerly closeted gay actor T.R did, but it’s justified right? The double standard is thick with you gay white males isn’t it?
Save your “luck” for IW being blacklisted in Hollywood by gay white males in power. I’m sure both IW and others like me who support him will be waiting on gay TOLERANCE until MJ turns back to his original skin color and nose.
treesey
Jun 23, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Oh yes Ty, the show’s creator wrote the role for the IW the “angry black male” specifically. So Shonda risks liability and backlash because of IW’s “anger management” issues?
Man the b.s. is thick up in here!!!
Ty
Jun 23, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Treesey, As I stated before, I certainly am NOT gay! And my girlfriend would be angry at your intimation. The reasons that I feel that the show was and is justified in firing IW are (1) he started a fight on the set with Patrick Dempsey, (2) he used unnecessary and obscene language in front of the camera, and (3) he made homophobic/anti-gay statements with the intention of defaming a fellow cast member! I spoke “about” you for the simple reason that I feel that it is irresponsible for you to assume that white gays such as TRK receive “special protection” in relation to other classes of gays. the fact is that the people who dislike gays, dislike them for the conduct that they engage in - not for the race to which they belong. To make matters worse, you seem to believe that IW has been unfairly treated because he is a black man who made a gay slur which was directed at a white gay man. But can you or anyone imagine if a white man were to have made the same statements? What I am saying is that we live in a society where EVERYONE, regardless of race or gender, should be required to pay the penalty for the ignorant remarks that they make!
JCW
Jun 23, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Well - my last comment is stuck in moderation. Let me sum it up thus:
Ty, Treesey is a douche - don’t waste your time trying to reason with her. She’s not here for that - she’s here to promote an anti-gay agenda, and that’s that.
treesey
Jun 23, 2007 at 5:57 pm
JCW and his passsive aggressive posts. What do you have va jay jay envy? I bet your mom appreciates that most gay men consider her a breeder….anyhoo, keep up your hypocrisy and keep promoting your gay white mafia agenda (that I addressed to you in the previous posts).
JCW
Jun 23, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Oh…and by the way Greasy - you homophobic twit -
here’s a link for you to this year’s gay pride celebration in San Francisco. You might want to click on “Parade”, and then look under Grand Marshalls:
http://www.sfpride.org/
Note the number of people of color who are being honored this year. Sort of pokes a whole in your “Gay White Male” power theory, doesn’t it?
JCW
Jun 23, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Greasy,
And by the way - what my mom appreciates is that she didn’t give birth to a hateful hag like you.
She’s a very happy woman.
treesey
Jun 23, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Ty, the point has once again flown over your head. Do you have a problem with basic comprehension? Maybe I need to type in more simple terms for you.
(A) IW APOLOGIZED TWICE and made amends with his castmates and Dempsey, and tried to move on and go back to work, but no the gay media just had to lynch him and keep the attention on the squashed problem.
(B) Once T.R. came out, I knew, that IW days were numbered. You can’t be this dense, no wait, you white people still believe that racism and discrimination doesn’t exist. LOL!!!!!
Just so we are clear, I don’t agree with what IW said to Dempsey but I’ve heard worst said about me as a black woman, so spare me the justification of homophobic views.
I think your GF better think twice with dealing with a man who supports gays with such fervor. Perhaps you are on the D.L. ( oh wait that’s for blacks. I mean you must still be in the closet). McGreevey much? Something about you is suspect.
Lastly, you ideally think that we should live in a society that deals with people with fairness and equality whenever ignorant remarks are made? Tell that to O’Reilly, Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck. Wow, you are dense.
treesey
Jun 23, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Hi Jack off Dramatic C*** Whiner. I lived in San Fran for 10 years and I don’t need to see a bunch of fat sloppy white men with their a**es out and butch lesbos. I happily drove by the celebration of tolerance and flipped off you hypocrites. Your gay tolerance is humorous.
Make sure you keep that KY near by for your grease fest!
JCW
Jun 23, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Well Ty - If you should happen to check back in I think you get the picture. Trying to “discuss” anything with Treesy is essentially a waste of time. Never mind trying to get a point across. She’s here for two reasons only - to pick fights with people and slur gay folks. Sadly, I’ve taken the bait on too many occassions, but I must confess that in her nastiness I find her amusing.
Ty
Jun 23, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Treesey, honestly I have no intention, in any way, of getting into a personal debate with you. But the point of my last posting was not to defend gays or any other class of people for that matter. Rather, it was to say that those who make defamatory statements, regardless of their race or gender, should be given “equal treatment” in their “punishments.” Yes, I can see that you are unhappy with the show’s decision to fire IW, but wasn’t Imus fired after making racial slurs? and didn’t Mel Gibson have his career and reputation ruined by the press after his drunken, anti-semitic statements? After all, it is evident with “Apocalypto” that the only way Gibson will have another movie made is if he pays for it himself! Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker was actually suspended by Major League Baseball for 1 Year and fined after his racial slurs appeared in “Sports Illustrated.” I could go on, but my point is that these are examples of WHITE MALES who made racial slurs, apologized (a number of times), and still had there careers damaged or ruined. So the only logical conclusion that one should draw from the show’s firing of IW is not that they were targeting him as a minority but rather that they were treating him like everyone else who makes such statements. In sum, my feeling is that either everyone should be punished for the ignorant remarks that they make or no one should; no race or gender should be exempted.
treesey
Jun 23, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Oh yes JCW, mr passive aggressive, you are so innocent with your comments to me. So innocent, so wounded. LOL, you are so desperate for cosigners it’s pathetic.
treesey
Jun 23, 2007 at 10:48 pm
MY GOD THERE IT IS, THE IMUS RESPONSE I WAS LOOKING FOR!!!!!! YES!! IF NOTHING ELSE FAILS, PULL UP THE IM - A -ASS SITUATION TO COMPARE TO THE JUSTIFICATION OF FIRING IW. PREDICTABLE. This game is fun.
Is this what it’s all about? Retribution for IMUS being fired? I can’t stop laughing!!! Let me compose myself before I lay one on you.
APPLES and ORANGES. IMUS HAS A HISTORY OF MAKING NASTY RACIAL COMMENTS ABOUT BLACKS. Please if you are gonna make a point, make sure you have the good sense to make it similar to the topic at hand. SMDH. IW doesn’t have a history of homophobia, nor did he make his slur public like IMASS did. Do you get it? The BACKSTAGE altercation between Dempsey and Washington was LEAKED to the public. IMASS is a national radio show host who’s been on the air for what 30 years and he’s gotten away with his racist humor for way too long and he got his ass served for it. Trust me, IM-A-Ass will be back on the air before IW will see another role in IW. I hope he does but he will have to deal with nonbiased producers.
DO you understand what apples and oranges is?
Mel Gibson made amends with the jewish community, but he’s in a DIFFERENT STATUS AS IW. Gibson was wrong for what he said, but his career will not suffer for it. The man is making movies and STILL HAS THE POWER TO DO IT IN HOLLYWOOD. Do you really think Gibson’s career is ruined like IW’s is?
No comparision, but thanks for trying.
With Rucker, HE MADE HIS OPINIONS PUBLIC, thus resulting in his suspension and being fined. What did Rucker do to make amends with the black community for his remarks. NOT A DAMM THING. Your comparison doesn’t hold water.
How in the world do you get thru the day being so damm stupid? Do you understand what context is?
IW apologized, went to counseling, apologized again, got his role reduced on the show, and still got his a** lynched by the media and gay community.
So when you use some common sense, get back at me.
JCW
Jun 24, 2007 at 4:01 am
Actually Greasy, Ty’s message was on the money.
He’s been nothing but polite towards you and yet you call him “Damn stupid”?
This is what makes you such a Douche.
“IW doesn’t have a history of homophobia, nor did he make his slur public like IMASS did.”
No indeed he does not. What he does have is a documented history of a tendency towards temper tantrums and violence in the workplace, and a reputation for being “difficult”. This had more to do with his being let go than the slur incident, as Shonda has hinted at in the only interview she gave on the subject.
But why would any of that matter to you when you can use the occassion as an excuse to gay bash?
Keep ‘em coming honey! I know you’re a sad and pathetic excuse for a human being and I should pity you - but you’re just too entertaining for me to give in to my higher instincts!
Frankly, I still don’t believe you even watch the show. You’re just here to stir the pot.
My hubby’s theory is that you aren’t even Black, but here posing as a Black woman spewing hate to make Black people look bad.
He may have a point.
JCW
Jun 24, 2007 at 4:15 am
Shonda Rhimes regarding letting Isaiah Washington out of his contract:
“I think there have been things that have happened that have been within the family that stay within the family,” Rhimes told “Access’” Shaun Robinson at the Crystal + Lucy Awards honoring Women in Film.”
Being a classy lady, Shonda isn’t spilling the beans. However she DOES hint that more went on behind the scenes than we know about.
Is that a concept you can wrap your little pea-brain around Greasy?
Leon Rodriguez
Jun 24, 2007 at 8:01 am
That’s the second one of my commentaries that you guys have nuked. Is this supposed to be fair and impartial? Why am I being censored? Because we don’t agree? I see the commentary you leave on the blog and choose over mine. I think that says it all. I se what Isaiah is up against. I know I speak for the masses that see through this clique of common thought when I say “Goodbye Grey’s Anatomy”. I am no stranger to the culture of exclusion. You do yourselves an injustice but your deception to your market audience is devastating.
Leon Rodriguez
Filmmaker
treesey
Jun 24, 2007 at 10:29 am
JCW, you are a desperate one aren’t you? Still keep on reaching. YOu have no idea what OFFICE POLITICS are don’t you as it pertains to gay white males. No wait, you DO KNOW WHAT THE DOUBLE STANDARD IS.
Look Dramatic C**t, Shonda isn’t going to reveal the real reason behind IW’s firing (since she made a similar statement that IW was a part of G.A. and was an integral part of the cast. Funny you left that out. Typical about you I see with your selective memory).
(A) She’s afraid of being sued by IW because she promised him that she would still be apart of the show, (B) SHE IS BEING TOLD WHAT TO SAY IN HER STATEMENTS FROM HER BOSS. You can play naive all you want and continue to stick you head in the sand, or another part of the anatomy.
Just keep reaching for any semblance of a point. You are pathetic. Gloss over the gay white male mafia’s influence in IW’s firing all you want, but I, and others who SUPPORT IW can see the hypocrisy.
Keep whining and being more of a b**** than most women I know. It’s what you do best.
treesey
Jun 24, 2007 at 10:47 am
Whatever Dramatic C*** Whiner,
Once again, I could give two s**ts if YOU believe that I watch the show or that I’m really black. This is what you gay white males do best. You are under the impression that your opinion matters to me or anyone else. Obsessive compulse much? So today you are O.C. and other times, passive aggressive.
Where is the proof that IW has a history of anger management issues? Put up or STFU! SHONDA WROTE MCDREAMY FOR IW, and now ALL OF A SUDDEN HE HAS A HISTORY ANGER ISSUES? Keep dancing puppet with you “justification” of IW’s firing. This double talk keeps proving me right.
Is your panties in a bunch because I called out your all inclusive, intolerant, unforgiving, unaccepting gay white mafia/community? That you gay whites are nothing but twofaced, backstabbing hypocrites?
You said that I used gay slurs. POINT THAT OUT. You can’t because your loud and wrong like the dramatic c**t you are.
I see you are trying to use my terms too. Typical twofaced backstabber. Come up with your own material.
You are keeping this exchange up because you are what I’ve known all along: A TWOFACE, PHONY, HYPOCRITICAL DRAMATIC C**T. Keep dancing puppet.
So you went crying to your “hubby”, that means you’re the female in the relationship. I can tell. You’ve got way too much b**** in you to be the man.
Khadejah
Jun 24, 2007 at 11:53 am
i want isaiah back. what going to happen to christina and burke? i feel they made a bad decision.
treesey
Jun 24, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Khadejah, I agree it’s a bad decision, which is clearly why I am so vocal with my disappointment. Unless the show’s creator suddenly develops a backbone I doubt IW will be brought back.
IW did all that was required of him WITHOUT COMPLAINT and he still got shafted by the higher ups (the people who sign her checks). IW brought a tremendous amount of talent to the show and I really loved the Chrisitna/Burke romance.
ddtwid
Jun 24, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I am breathing a sigh of relief that IW is gone. He makes a day on the set HELL. He’s rude, disrespectful, and narcissistic. Good riddance.
JCW
Jun 24, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Watch out ddtwid! Treesey’s gonna come gunning for your behind! Don’t matter if your Black, Latino, Asian, straight - You’ll be just another “White gay guy” out to promote the agenda of the “gay mafia”.
BTW Greasey - you might try being the “female” in YOUR relationship sometime. Then maybe you might get some and stop being such a cranky douche!
I.W. is off the show - Shonda had a hand in that. Is it really so hard to believe that there were reasons the general public isn’t aware of?
Jasslyne
Jun 24, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Screw you JCW!
Treesey you keep on tellin it like it is! These sick fag people RAILROADED Isaiah and they don’t care about anything but their own sick agenda!
Their all going to HELL along with T.R.! They need to WAKE UP and stop doing the sick things they do! They think by bringing down the strong Black man they can make themselves seem better then they really are!
Well you CAN’T! God HATES fags! When are you going to realize that at stop trying to bring down socierty?
You keep it up Treesey! God’s on our side and they can say whayever they want but it dont change a thing! They are SICK and they are doing EVIL!
Treesey, where can we write to protest about Isaian and protest to get TR fired?
treesey
Jun 24, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Hey Dramatic C***, Did you run out of lube? You have greasy always on your mind.
Once again your psychic abilites about me is astounding! You should start your own gay psychic network. Tell me how far is the gay white lynch mafia willing to go to blacklist IW in Hollywood?
No, Ty isn’t stupid, you are! You are dumb as the day is long. I’m tired of schooling you. Go read a book, take a fe black history/sociology classes, and stop searching the ‘net for gay porn. I keep making the points and you keep glossing over it. You are afflicted with the same “special education” problem as Ty.
Shonda created a positive, leading man role for IW, even went so far as to hire him with his “history of anger management issues and ‘homophobia” on her show, then turns around and fires him after all the amendments he’s made. Man the spin machine never stop with gay white males.
I wonder if scientific study can be funded and conducted to research the gay gene in all gay white males: BACKSTABBING, TWOFACED, HYPOCRITES, MIMIC SASSY BLACK WOMEN, AND ACT LIKE “OPPRESSED VICTIMS” who could do no wrong.
Ty
Jun 24, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Treesey, in response to my last posting, despite the fact that I explicitly indicated otherwise, you deemed my list of examples to be exhaustive rather than illustrative. And in so treating the examples as though they were meant to be specifically tailored to fit the IW situation, you conveniently avoided the real issue. The issue here is the reality that it has become rule rather than the exception that members of the majority are forced to pay dearly, regardless of what they do to “make amends” for their thoughtless comments while minorities who make similar, if not identical comments, generally have their utterances overlooked or quickly forgotten. It is a valid argument for one to make that NONE of us should lose our livlihoods due to a callous, culturally insenstive remark the way that IW has. And I would certainly be open to that argument, if it were reciprical. But it is not. For as long as society demands that the members of the majority be overly careful in every word they say, then we should expect this treatment, no matter how unfair in some instances, to be EQUAL. As I am sure you know Treesey, there is a huge distinction between Equality and Fairness. And this goes back to my original point which is that either EVERYONE should be held accountable for their ingnorant remarks or NO ONE should!
Ty
Jun 24, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Treesey, despite the fact that I explicitly indicated otherwise, you deemed my list of examples to be exhaustive rather than illustrative. And in so treating the examples as though they were meant to be specifically tailored to fit the IW situation, conspicuously absent from your response was any sort of a critique of the real issue. The issue here is the reality that it has become the rule rather than the exception that members of the majority are forced to pay dearly, regardless of what they do to “make amends” for their thoughtless comments while minorities who make similar, if not identical comments, generally have their utterances overlooked or quickly forgotten. But it is a valid argument for one to make that NONE of us should lose our livlihoods due to a couple of callous, culturally insenstive remarks the way that IW has. And I would certainly be open to such an argument; if it were reciprical. But it is not. For as long as society demands that the members of the majority be overly careful in every word they say, then we should expect this treatment, no matter how unfair in some instances, to be EQUAL. As I am sure you know Treesey, there is a huge distinction between Equality and Fairness. And this goes back to my original point which is that either EVERYONE should be held accountable for their ingnorant remarks or NO ONE should!
Ty
Jun 24, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Oh my God! Someone finely left Treesey speechless!
Hey, maybe I should take her out, I bet that I could also get her liking guys again! No, just kidding I don’t think that she likes any man except IW. He is her personal hero! Of course, I could be wrong Treesey, I mean like you said I am just so “dumb,” right?
Ty
Jun 24, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Anyway, I feel that I have made my opinion clear regarding the show’s decision to fire IW. And I got Treesey back for all the s*** that she talked about me. And to be honest, this topic is starting to get a little boring. So, its been fun and I look forward to another season of Grey’s Anatomy hoping that it delivers as much entertainment as it has in the previous seasons. And finally, to Treesey I DO respect your opinions, just as I hope that you respect mine. See y’all!
mcdreamy lover
Jun 25, 2007 at 11:35 am
Quit arguing with eachother. All Isaiah Washington did was use 1 gay slur so quit saying he’s against gay’s because everyone says something they regreat when they get really annoyed or mad.
Kaelee
Jun 25, 2007 at 12:06 pm
OK, am I the only one that’s glad Isaiah got fired? I never really liked Burke, he was way too cocky. Isaiah is an exceptional actor, but he acted in an unacceptable manner. Maybe he wouldn’t have gotten fired if he didn’t try to deny the slur and say the ”f” word again at the Golden Globes. But he did exactly that. I know he apologized for his actions, but sometimes that just isn’t enough. He basically forced TR Knight to come out, then he said TR should’ve been the one to get fired. I’m glad Isaiah is gone.
Kaelee
Jun 25, 2007 at 2:02 pm
This comment is on behalf of my friend. She says and I quote: I think what Isaiah did is absurd. He should never have called TR what he did. And then he denied calling him that and used the word again at the golden globes. And now he’s saying that TR Knight is the one that should’ve gotten fired. In closing, she said she’s glad Isaiah was fired.
Airene Jana
Jun 26, 2007 at 7:21 am
this comment is on behalf of my friend too…she said”…dr burke was the most finest surgeon in SGH…definitely IW was a great actor…GA would not be the same without him…”
yeah…kind of agree with ‘my friend…’
so my comment is…i gonna miss BURKE…
mcdreamy lover
Jun 26, 2007 at 10:17 am
Have you guy’s heard that Isaiah washington thinks that t.r. knight wanted to get Isaiah Washington and Patrick Dempsey kicked of the show for a year and a half……… Wonder what Patrick Dempsey has to say about that. why aren’t any of the cast members speaking out??
mcdreamy lover
Jun 26, 2007 at 10:21 am
All that said Isaiah Washington should not have been fired. Have you guy’s ever thought that maybe he said he didn’t call T.R. knight (that word) to try to protect him from having to come out of the closet.
Jasslyne
Jun 26, 2007 at 11:22 am
Interesting that Sherry has not seen fit to post any of the recent articles about Isaiah. First, the one where he says T.R. should have been fired instead of him, then the one where he says T.R. manipulated the whole thing top get him and Dempsey off the show. Hmmm..
Well, anyhow McDreamy lover, I cannot argue with you about Isaiah’s being fired based on the gay slander thing. He did after all make all the public apologies, etc.
I honestly don’t think the gay thing is WHY he got fired. Certainly it was a contributing factor, but Shonda has hinted that things went on behind the scenes that she has no intention of making public, so I think it’s safe to assume that there were other factors involved. Is he homophobic? I don’t know. Is he “difficult”? Evidence tends to point that direction.
Isaiah’s contentention that this was all an elaborate plot on T.R.s case seems a bit far fetched,
however he can say whatever he wants and almost certainly be sure that no one can step up to dispute his version of events.
The reason none of the other actors are willing to speak out is almost certainly an ABC gag order - their attempt to let this whole thing die down. Any actor defying the production’s mandate would themself be risking their future on the show.
I know Isaiah feels he’s been wronged, but the lengths he’s going to in an attempt to clear his name only seem to be making him look worse.
We’ll see how he comes across on Larry king.
Kaelee
Jun 26, 2007 at 1:48 pm
OK, McDreamy lover, why would Isaiah deny calling TR that word just to protect TR? I mean, if he wanted to protect TR from having to come out then he shouldn’t have called TR that word in the first place!!! And I don’t care what anyone says, Isaiah should’ve been fired! He said horrible things to TR, denied it, repeated the horrible thing he called TR at the GGs, denied it more, and then said that all of this was a conspiracy by TR to get him fired! He didn’t deserve to keep his job on Grey’s Anatomy!
Airene Jana
Jun 26, 2007 at 10:07 pm
“I think the worst part of all this is that we have been lead to believe that IW verbally attacked TR and PD came to save the day and now ABC is saving us from this bad bad man. When in all reality TR wasnt even on the set when the slur was made but very few people are mentioning that. Also every report i’ve seen says that IW blurted out the comment again for no reason at the GG”s and no one mentioned the fact that he was repeatedly asked if he made the statement and was responding to the questions. Despite all of that he stepped up and took the blame and tried to make amends. He has also been a gay rights advocate since waaaay before all of this. Seems to me ABC gave the wrong cast member a raise and left not only a good actor but a good person out in the cold. Good luck IW”
i post this comment on behalf of someone out there…this is the best comment i had ever read about IW getting fired and i want to share it with you all here…
Corrie
Jun 28, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Wow. This is so lame. Treesy… if you still check this.. You are a lame excuse for a human being. Get a life. And for the rest of you.. All the crap your talking about has already been discussed… Read the above posts and stop wasting your time.
JCW
Jun 28, 2007 at 8:00 pm
So Isaiah has given yet another interview about his departure from Grey’s:
“I went into an executive counseling program which many people in this industry know about and go to,” the actor says in the current issue of Newsweek, attempting to clarify what exactly he checked into earlier this year to make amends for uttering an antigay slur backstage at the Golden Globes. “There is no rehab for homophobia,” Washington said. “That was just some crap being put out by the network.” (ABC declined to comment for the Newsweek article.)”
He goes on to state:
“And more importantly, I volunteered for it because I wanted to understand my fight with Patrick and how it got out of hand like that,” he told the magazine. “I wanted to know what I could do to avoid it happening again.”
OK - so to all you commentors harping that he went to “Gay Rehab” - now you know that was bullsh*t - from the man himself. He says he went because of his altercation with Dempsey, not Knight.
Suck on that for a few minutes.
“My mistake was believing that I would get the support from my network and all of my castmates across the board,” he continued. “My mistake was believing that I could correct a wrong with honesty and sincerity. My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts.”
WHOOPS there it is! To justify his point of view that his firing was racially motivated, he cites how Robert Downey Jr. got a “second chance”.
It’s worth noting that Robert Downey Jr. LOST HIS JOB on Ally McBiel due to his continued drug abuse.
He got no “second chance”. He was fired.
Downey was harming himself - by all accounts his drug use did not interfere with his day to day work. He did not physically attack a co-worker. He did not use slurs towards a coworker. He did not go on National television and embarrass his show.
He did, however, get fired. So much for Downey’s “second chance”. Guess being White doesn’t always pay off.
Washington’s argument does not hold a lot of weight. Last week it was a conspiracy on the part ot T.R. Knight that got him fired. This week it’s racism on the part of the Network. Next week is anybody’s guess.
It will be interesting to hear him speak on Larry King next Monday. If he can’t come up with a consistent villian to blame by then, I suspect we won’t be hearing a whole lot from him in the future.
I don’t suppose it’s ever occurred to him to simply accept the idea that perhaps his OWN behavior had something to do with his being let go?
Treesey - we’re waiting with baited breath for your next onslaught.
Corrie
Jun 28, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Right On JCW.. Awesome Research.. I heard about the article and went looking for it, but had no luck.. that could be cause my computer sucks though!
Sebastian
Jun 29, 2007 at 10:57 am
Isaiah had it right when he said “I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that `some people’ were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I’m a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn’t go around saying `Yessah, massa sir’ and `No sir, massa’ to everyone? There have been worse things said during tapings and guess what they were said by people of the caucasian persuasion (white people). Do you know what happened to them they were fined and suspended a week or two. Sorry to bring myself down to their level but it’s crap.
Kaelee
Jun 29, 2007 at 2:10 pm
I am looking forward to Isaiah Washington going on Larry King next Monday. I wonder what lame excuse he will come up with to try to convince everyone his firing was unfair. Can’t wait to see what he says!
Hargrove
Jun 30, 2007 at 6:28 pm
ABC and Disney have always been gay friendly, and when some unknown employee went to the press with lies about the nature of the conflict between Patrick Dempsey, and the use of the word faggot, I think ABC/Disney saw it as an opportunity to advance the gay agenda - at Isaiah Washington’s expense . . .
By encouraging the public to believed that a gay actor had been humiliated by a homophobic slur and “forced” to come out, they could engender sympathy for gay issues. All ABC had to do to pull it off was, to let the rumors fly, and keep Isaiah quiet.
It was working, Isaiah kept his mouth shut until he got an opportunity he couldn’t resist, while the cameras were rolling, a reporter asked him if he called T.R. Knight a faggot . . . He seized the opportunity to clear his name, announcing that he had not.
The truth is there was no physical confrontation between Isaiah and Patrick, and T.R. Knight was nowhere around when the word faggot was used by Isaiah, against Patrick. T.R. Knight didn’t come out because the word faggot was spoken, he didn’t need to come out, everyone already knew he was gay. He was not in danger of being exposed because the f-word was spoken in his abscense since, at any time, any one of his co-workers could have spill the beans . . . He chose to “come out” at the time that he did because the time was ripe to harvest the sympathetic goodwill for himself and the homosexual community, at the cost of Isaiah Washington’s reputation and career.
Isaiah Washington wasn’t just fired, he was set up! ABC let employees tell lies about him in the press and they would not let him respond. When he finally did speak, ABC acted like it was a function of homophobia, rather than a man trying to let the world know that he did not hit a co-worker and that he did not call a gay co-worker a faggot.
After ABC shut Isaiah up and sent him to rehab, to make it look like the rumors were true, they allowed employees to bad mouth him in the press, even giving T.R. Knight a pass to use the word faggot when he lied about Isaiah on national television.
Besides gagging Isaiah and allowing employees to slander him, ABC invented a whole new characterization of the word faggot to keep the fires raging around the lie that Isaiah is a homophobe. According to ABC, the word faggot cannot be used under any circumstances, unless your name is Glenn Beck, then they’ll hire you after you use it on national television, or if your name is T.R. Knight, they’ll give you a raise, for the same thing . . . Perhaps it doesn’t matter what your name is, so long as you’re white . . .
ABC fired Isaiah because he didn’t sit still while they banded him as a homophobe and a brute, in furtherance of gay rights . . .
Notice how they’ve stopped talking now that they can no longer control Isaiah, and lawsuits are looming.
JCW
Jul 1, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again - the whole thing is sad and unfortunate.
I do not believe that Isaiah is an overt homophobe, although I DO believe he has real anger issues.
His attempts in the press to first blame T.R. Knight for creating the entire situation, followed by his insinuations that the brass at ABC are racist smacks of someone who is not willing to own up to their own responsibility.
Guess what? Show business is based on making MONEY! They don’t care what color you are as long as they make MONEY! They DO care if they think your personal rep might damage the product they’re selling - i.e. - if you’re openly gay or have a rep for hate speech. Believe me, if they thought T.R.s “coming out” would hurt their product, they’d have dumped hiss ass as well! The only reason he’s still there is because attitudes are SLOWLY beginning to change in this country, and they were afraid of being labeled homophobic. They certainly took long enough to renew his contract!
Tomorrow night, Isaiah will certainly be interesting on Larry King. So far, he’s done nothing but hurt himself in his attempts to defend his image. Had he just let this pass and chalk it up to experience, he would most certainly continue working.
However, his attempts to blame everbody else for what has happened have tarnished his image much more than the original incident ever could have.
Like I said, I don’t believe he’s an overt homophobe, but it does seem as though he has some difficulty controlling himself when he gets pissed off - and that’s going to really hurt his future career.
What happened to Treesey? I can hardly recognize this message board without hate-filled, homophobic comments.
Ty
Jul 1, 2007 at 8:24 pm
JCW, I certainly agree with you that a corporation of any kind is and should be concerned mainly with public perception rather than the comparatively trivial concerns of unfairly targeting any one particular class of people.
And would you be willing to acknowledge that if a member of the majority or even TRK, a gay white male, were to have made a RACIAL slur which had been directed at IW; the public outrage would have been unrelenting? It is without doubt that the public would have demanded that such an individual be fired, regardless of what he did to “make amends.” It is my feeling that we are dealing with a double-standard wherein a minority is given a certain amount of leeway in his indiscretions whereas a member of the majority would is not. I do not believe that such a double standard should exist. Every individual, regardless of race or gender, should be held accountable for his actions! And by the way JCW, way to stay on top of this issue!
Ty
Jul 1, 2007 at 11:01 pm
A situation such as ABC’s decision to fire IW, while unfortunate, may finally provide his supporters with an opportunity to ask themselves an important question. And that question is, “would I support a white man or woman who made comments that were similar to his?” If their answers were yes, then the discussion on this board would be entirely different. After all, should one lose his livlihood for a couple of insensitive remarks the way that IW has? The answer to this question may be no. But, in reality, this question cannot be answered. This is because, as of right now, any intellectually honest observer must acknowledge that members of the majority who make racially/culturally offensive remarks ARE forced to either lose their livlihoods or see them severely limited. And the fact that, in this regard, there is no equal standard that is applied for the different races and classes, the very question is rendered moot. But if this were not the case, and either NO ONE were required to pay this high of a penalty for the WORDS that he uttered, or the penalty for such words were the same for EVERYONE, then not only would we have a more equal society but it is more than just plausible that it would be more tolerant as well.
JCW
Jul 2, 2007 at 9:07 am
Yes Ty, I do agree with your point. Had any white cast member used the “N” word towards Isaiah Washington within hearing of other cast members, and then denied it’s use at the GGs while simultaniously uttering it two more times, I believe he would have been dealt with much more swiftly.
Although so much focus has been placed on the slur, I still feel that it is not the main reason Isaiah was let go. Despite Treesey’s assertations that gay white men are a protected class, that they form their own “mafia” and assert their muscle in show business, it truly is not the case. The majority of gay men in powerful positions are a closeted, self loathing lot and are not about to make a big issue out of the use of the “F” word.
Shonda has hinted that certain things went down on the set and that she was not going to make them public. I suspect a lot went in to making the decision to let Isaiah go that we’ll never know.
Should he have been let go over the use of the slur when it first happened? Only if the network would fire someone for the use of any other similar slur - which I believe they would have. Had it been the “N” word, Sharpton, Jackson and the NAACP would have put the screws to ABC big time and the offender would have been terminated.
Note that when one of their OWN offends, not only do Sharpton and Jackson remain silent, the NAACP actually gives him an Image Award!
So yes, yes and yes. I totally agree with your point.
One standard of acceptable behavior for all people is the answer. White/Black/Hispanic/Asian, male/female, gay/straight. None of that should matter… though in truth it obviously still does to this day. And for the time being gays are still treated as the “least of the least”.
Sure…T.R. might have kept his job, but why in such a large cast was there not an openly gay cast member hired in the first place? Guess Treesey’s “gay mafia” doesn’t wield as much power as she thinks they do.
Ty
Jul 2, 2007 at 12:24 pm
JCW, To clarify, I agree that in IW’s particular case it is likely that his homophopic remarks were not dispositive in his subsequent firing. His remark probably played a contributing factor or at most was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” in ABC’s decision to let him go. His other problems have been well-documented on this message board alone. While these are certainly not all of the problems which been attributed to him, to name a few: There was his raging narcissism which functioned in making him a “cancer” on the rest of the cast. There was his anger-management/control issues. And it does not take show “insider” to realize that a problem such as this would make it difficult for just about everyone on the cast to work with IW. And there is the fact that he made a public spectacle of himself at the GG’s. Additionally, while one does not want to speculate, it is certainly plausible that there were still other things which occurred behind the scenes making ABC’s decision to fire IW inevitable.
When viewing all of this OBJECTIVELY, one could reasonably conclude that each one of the above-mentioned factors could have acted independently to justify the show’s firing of IW. But when adding them all together, it becomes a “no-brainer” that he should have been let go!
Which again, makes me wonder why ANYONE could claim that this guy was unfairly treated.
Elizabeth
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I have deeply saddened about the firing of Isaiah Washington. The life he breathed into Dr. Burke is irreplaceable and the performance of a lifetime. The show will indeed suffer. His performance with Sandra Oh were the most adult of all. I for one will not tune in.
JCW
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Well, I went into the King interview with an open mind. Having watched it, I will again state that I feel sorry for Isaiah.
However….
At one point in the interview he makes a major point that he did NOT refer to T.R. as a “faggot”. In fact, he refuses to cop to that having been the major slur in his disagreement with Dempsey at all, instead saying he used the “P” word, the “B” word AND the “F” word.
He says it was all tabloid magazine spin.
Later in his conversation with King he mentions that he did indeed bring T.R.’s name into the argument.
So first he says he never mentioned T.R., then he slips and says he did.
In the end I come away from the interview thinking that although Isaiah may indeed not be a raving homophobe, he is a man who is attempting to alter the facts of the incident to make himself look better.
It’s interesting to note that he sites the fact that other people employed by Grey’s are under a gag order - so he can pretty much say whatever he want’s without fear of any public disagreement.
Is he a “bad” man? Probably not. Is he a man attempting to re-write history to revive his career?
Probably so.
He’d have served himself better not to continue speaking on the subject, as with each burst of controversy he hurts his future career options.
Ty
Jul 2, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Yeah, I noticed that as well! At first, IW explained that he used the word as a way of describing “weakness” when arguing with PD. In his recollection of this altercation he, at first, maintained that he had never even mentioned TRK. But then later in the interview, it was evi