Isaiah Washington Issues Formal Apology
Actor Isaiah Washington has issued an apology in a statement to People for his behavior during the now-infamous on-set argument with a Grey's Anatomy co-star.
"I sincerely regret my actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on-set," he said. "Both are beneath my own personal standards. I have nothing but respect for my co-workers, and have apologized personally to everyone involved."
After Washington, 43, and Patrick Dempsey, 40, clashed on October 9, reports began surfacing that Washington had used a homophobic slur during the fracas.
Then on October 19, their co-star, T.R. Knight, disclosed that he is gay.
"I'd like to quiet any unnecessary rumors that may be out there," he said. "I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me."
Fallout from the turmoil has sparked talk of everything from hasty script rewrites of an impending onscreen fight scene (not true, says show creator Shonda Rhimes) to rumors that Washington would be fired and replaced by former ER star Eriq La Salle.
"I found (those rumors) not only ridiculous but offensive that we would consider replacing a member of our family. Also, the (idea) that one black man was interchangeable with another is disturbing to me," Rhimes said.
Rhimes also dismissed speculation that the mood on the set has been tense since the argument.
"The mood's what the mood's always been," she said. "We have a group of people who are more of a family than anything else. We have our fun days, and we have our days when people are tired and the work is hard."
On Tuesday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Grey's costar Katherine Heigl played down the incident, calling it a "scuffle" that blew over in a matter of a few minutes.
Washington was scheduled to tape an interview with DeGeneres on Tuesday to air Wednesday, but canceled — citing a scheduling conflict — after Heigl jokingly warned DeGeneres to "step back" during Washington's appearance.
So what actually happened between Washington and Dempsey? A set source says that when Knight, 33, was late to film a scene, a debate ensued between Dempsey and Washington, with Dempsey insisting on waiting for Knight before starting the scene. The argument intensified, and the source says that the alleged slur was used — but Knight was not present.
"Isaiah was running his mouth off," the source told People. "Isaiah verbally attacked Patrick. He tore into him. Patrick's voice escalated and he told Isaiah to f*%k off, (but) that was as heated as Patrick got."
As of today, Rhimes tells the magazine, Dempsey and Washington "are fine" — as are Washington and Knight.
"They've had conversations," says Rhimes. "They did a really great scene together the other day." The whole affair, she says, "was four and a half seconds of one day in three years. I feel like we've already moved on."
We're glad that Washington and Rhimes have come forward to address the issue and assure us that everything has been resolved. Hopefully, the matter can now be put to bed and we can focus on the show!
Now that Mr. Washington has indeed apologized for his “actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on-set,” I will now not be watching this show any longer unless this actor is dismissed. To do otherwise is to condone violent actions laced with homophobia–characteristics I find abhorrent in any individual, let alone any actor who relies on viewers to maintain his very salary.
Ever heard abut being tolerant!! What gives you the authority to “dismiss” people? We are trying to obtain peace in this world and we can’t even have “love and peace” attitudes in our daily life? I suppose you never said or did anything that you regret within minutes. What a mentality I feel so sorry for you.
Well, first of all… we dont even know what this “slur” is! Everything that claims for it to be homophobic is a RUMOR triggered by Knight’s coming out of the closet. No one has even said if the two incidents are related. And I personally am just going to wait for the tell all interview before I go and cast judgement.
Second, even if it was a homophobic slur, everyone makes mistakes. If it was any other job, I do not believe it would result in a job loss (unless it was with a client/customer). But between co-workers, I think it would only result in a write-up or something. If Washington and Knight are fine and moving on with life, fans should too. If Knight can still wake up and come to work every morning and not feel violated, then surely I can continue to watch the show!
We STILL don’t know what really happened and do we care? I don’t not anymore.
But it’s funny, everytime a white guy and a black guy get into a fight, the white guy always comes out on top looking like the hero and the black guy always comes out looking like the villian. Patrick isn’t the goody-goody guys, he must have done “something.”
I’ll still be watching the show despite all this high school gossip crap going on.
Like I’ve said, the argument was between the actors, and since Knight wasn’t there, whatever was said should not have gotten back to him, and the only reason it did was to cause problems - that’s what jealous and evil people do. I will continue to watch, and my feeling for all three actors and characters hasn’t changed, People need to stop putting actors and other famous people on a pedestal, because they are human and they make mistake. I love that Shonda is backing Mr. Washington, because I will continue to back him 100%. He has apologized and that is all he can do. So it’s time to move on. I’m sure we’ve all said things out of anger and/or exhaustion.
And one other thing I realized from talking with friends is that some of these people commenting are CSI fans, so of course they want it to keep going.
Thank you for sharing the article with us. It sounds like the argument, over in seconds, was far less important to any of the people involved than we have been lead to believe by some members of the media more interested in furthering their own agenda than in giving us facts. I am proud of Isaiah for coming forward and publically apologizing. I don’t know a single person who has never said or done something in anger they later regretted. If you have the DVDs from season two, listen to the episodes with the voice overs from actors, writers, and directors. They are just talking informally about the episodes as if we were in a room together watching. In every one, someone says something great about Isaiah. Sandra Oh comments on his sense of humor and how fun he is to work with. The writers and other actors talk about his dignity and the ways that he brings Burke to life that go beyond the words on the page. They talk about him as a friend and fantastic actor. Not once does anyone give any indication in either a direct or indirect way that he is someone difficult to work with. I am so glad that everyone has gotten past this on the set of Grey’s Anatomy and now I hope we can all get past it, too.
I don’t know what some of you people expect. Especially from people you don’t know personally and what you do know is what you read. This is Shonda’s problem to deal with and she has. It’s time to leave well enough alone and move on.
We all don’t know what happened but we can all sure guess what happened. WHere there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? Sure, everyone’s trying to play it down but can anyone remember the Desperate Housewives Vanity Fair shoot? They all said it was nothing and just a misunderstanding. Really, it doesn’t look good when big stars go bad and bitchy. Same case here.
Anyway, here’s an acticle from AfterElton that talks about gay slurs comapring it to racial ones.
http://www.afterelton.com/TV/2006/10/fword.html
I loved Shonda’s comment about how disturbing it is that anyone would think that one black actor could just take the place of another. I was really bothered by that, too, because if we know anything about Grey’s it is that actors are cast regardless of race. Preston Burke did not have to be black. The fact that he is is completely beside the point. It is Isaiah Washinton’s portrayal of Burke, with all of the expressiveness that he has brought to the part that makes the character come alive. No one else could ever be Preston Burke, black, white, or green.
Burke Backer, we must be related because you always say what I’m thinking. I hope IW knows he has so many loyal fans. I’m even learning how to create web pages so I can create one for Burke/Cristina. I’m not very computer literate, but for IW and SO, I’m willing to learn.
Mr. Washington can “sincerely regret” all he wants, but it does not change the fact that he likely revealed his true feelings in this horrid comment. It is in the heat of the moment, when we are not monitoring outselves, that we let our guards down enough to show what we really think and believe. Would he be as willing to excuse such bigotry if a white actor had used the word “nigger” in an altercation? I doubt it. And I suspect that there would be much more of an uproar–so much so that the producer would probably be forced to fire the offender due to the outcry. I guess it just show, yet again, that bigotry is not the sole domain of any one race, but something that is shared by all of humanity, even when we have endured bigotry ourselves. How sad.
Lionel Walsh,
Windsor, Ontario
Canada
Hi MJ, So glad to hear from you because I am feeling kind of alone out here tonight. If you create a webpage, please let me know the URL because I would love to visit it. There are lots of video montages on youtube.com of Burke and Cristina, too. I have them all saved as favorites. Some are scenes put to music and others are just short scenes from the show, words and all. I would love to see your webpage when you get it done.
Lionel, what else can he do except sincerely regret? What would you have him do? What “horrid comment” did he make? Do you know for sure what was said or who it was said to or even why it was said? Why believe the worst in him. “Likely revealed”. Why would you think this. Have you never said anything in anger that you didn’t really mean? I hate that race has entered into this conversation at all, but I also have no doubt that as a Black man he has experienced far more bigotry than T.R. Knight will ever experience as a gay actor. Would he tolerate it? He would have to if he wanted to continue living because it is a part of his world every day, not just during a 5 1/2 second altercation that he wasn’t even present to hear.
On the contrary, speaking out in anger does not express your true feelings. It’s just a way of getting the anger out, and it means you have to find other way in letting that anger out. Everyone gets angry, it’s a human emotion that is in everyone, just like crying and laughing. Once my best friend was so angry at me and said some very unkind words, and at the time I did think our friendship was over, but she apologized, we sat down and talked for hours, and now I can’t imagine not having her friendship. But not only that, I felt that I had to forgive her, because I once told my father (which brings tears to my eyes when I think about it) that I hated him, and never wanted to see him again, and I knew I didn’t mean it, but I was angry. Fortunately, we were able to patch things up.
You know, I know hearing that homophobia exists makes people uncomfortable and they want to ignore it. It’s an ugly topic, and it’s sad to think that it’s present on a TV show we all love so much. But rationalizing it to “protect” a show is sort of an act of averise discrimination. Not paying attention to it, or dismissing it is not better than actually saying it.
When do we all say enough is enough about hate? Even if it means changing your attitude about some insipid television show that hardly matters in the long run.
Actually, Isaiah Washington said something very similar to that on the Megan Mullally (is that her name from Will and Grace?) talk show months before the fight between Patrick and Isaiah. He said that he was happy that the relationship between Cristina and Burke was so well accepted and he hoped that it would open people up to accepting all kinds of relationship like those between the same gender. You can down load the broadcast on Bangsanatomy.com if you want to hear it. Or would you rather just assume that he is homophobic? Just because we read this differently, Colin, does not mean that anyone is dismissing or rationalizing hate. I think Isaiah was saying to Patrick, “Back off, I am not your girl friend”, when he said, “I am not your fa…..t” . He used a word that he regretted, and apologized for it, but he was not saying I hate gays. He was saying don’t treat me like I am in your pocket and willing to do anything you say just because you say it. He was not calling T.R. names. He was defending himself. I choose not to condemn him for that, particularly when I don’t know what happened that precipitated the disagreement. I think more hate has been leveled at Isaiah since this hit the news stands than Isaiah ever intended towards T.R. or even Patick and primarily by people who claim to be preaching tolerance. As for the insipid television show, why are you reading and writing about Grey’s Anatomy if you think no more of it than that?
I know I’m coming late to this story though God knows it has been all over the media and GA websites for a while now. I have refrained from commenting on what were in actual fact rumors and continue to be. Isaiah has apologized for whatever he said or did, his co-stars, the producers including Ms Rhimes have addressed the issue and clearly moved on, it is sensible for fans to do the same. On my part I will continue to support Isaiah and wish him the very best ‘cos as far as I’m concerned no one else can inhabit the role of Burke like he does.
One more thing - I love this website! You have handled the rumors with good sense and refrained from jumping on the bandwagon of haters - incredibly mature and professional. Well done!
Had somone on the set used a racial slur in regards to Mr. Washington being a “ni - - er” there would have been riots, Jesse Jackson involved, etc. It amazes me the indifference in tolerance. On Mr. Washington’s behalf, people do make mistakes and as human beings we have the gift of giving and receiving forgiveness. Words are like nails hammered into a piece of wood, once forgiven the nail is removed but to hold the wood up to the light, you can see the scars of the words. They never go away.
I don’t watch this show and I don’t plan on start watching it. But as a gay person myself, I find this hateful words unnecessary. If this has happened the other way around, I’ll be curious to see how Burke Backer would paraphrase it. “Back off I am not your little……” just curious.
On the other hand, Patick would be a racist, and I just wonder why the doble standards?
This is all so amusing, especially to the person who believes IW is dependenty upon their viewership. HA! he has been eating quite well for years, and I dare say probably better than you have ever eaten. Could that be the problem here.
I’ve watched the show from episode 1 and will continue until the finale. Unless of course the writer/producers buckle to please the crowd and fire IW.
Burke Backer says:
“I think more hate has been leveled at Isaiah since this hit the news stands than Isaiah ever intended towards T.R. or even Patick and primarily by people who claim to be preaching tolerance…”
It’s by means of example. “Kramer” says the ‘n’ word and it’s all over the media. Same goes for homophobia. Neither can be tolerated.
Isaiah Washington is intelligent and OUGHT to know enough to curb his verbiage when he comes from a background that suffered those same slings and arrows.
This issue’s bigger than Washington, Knight or that television show.
I dare say some good has come of it.
I absolutely love the show and what it brings to TV! I just hop it continues to rise to the occasion and bring the viewers great TV to watch.
As far as the slur…it done and over with move on…I have.
I believe that if Isaiah Washington is fired it would be a stupid a move as is all this media attention on 1 word. Sticks and Stones is all I have to say PEOPLE come on!!!!
Let’s get it together!
I love this show and watch it faithfully not because of one actor but because of the chemistry all the actors have together.
Get over it and move on.
And to the writers of the show , Keep up the good work!!!!
Why is it that when someone is called a slang word , and they are in fact the definition of that word, they find it offensive? Doesn’t that mean that they are offended by who or what they are? This guy wasn’t outed because someone called him a faggot! Why is it that someone calling him a faggot has him so upset, is he ashamed of who he is?
Ok people…so everyone will forgive Mel Gibson for his anti-semitic remarks and the guy from Sienfeld for his rasist remarks. They both apologized, and now no one really remembers it. But Heaven forbid someone use a homophobic remark. He apologized. But we cant leave him alone. I guarentee that there are (combined) more Jewish and African Americans in the US, but there is no longer a huge backlash..even a month later. Obviously Washington is going through enough right now…And I for one will continue watching the show. For all of those who say they wont, then give up all your Seinfeld DVDs and any Mel Gibson movie. Yeah, I dont see that happening either.
Love the show, hate the current negative media attention. It’s really a shame that a show with so much depth and great story lines could evoke all this destructive media focus. Right now I cant think of another show where there is not one but NINE characters of equal interest and appeal. I mean television has not had this brilliance in many years. Each of the actors bring something unique and very necessary to the characters they portray and there is no way anyone could just be replaced simply because they share a physical characterstic or profile. I mean that is a very sub-consciously racial remark. How ironic!! As much as I hate to even attempt to analyze a comment that I personally did not witness nor receive confirmation from any witness- I have to… But based upon reports of what was allegedly said, those comments were not aimed toward or used to offend someone’s sexual orientation. Its seems more that a term was used in an argument that coinidentally could be used to identify someone else’s sexual identity. An opology was delivered to the public not to admit guilt but to soothe the discomfort of those who may have misunderstood the context of the use of words. Surely if directed toward someone it would have been insensitive and inappropriate, but it does not seem to have been used in that way. We really need to develop our social tolerance for diversity and not be offended by words and things that acknowlege those distinctions. Gay is what it is, black is what it is and so forth, with respect, why cant we use those words without fear of being labeled a bigot or prejudiced person??
Would most of you have such a complacent, “It is between the cast members attitude” if T.R. Knight had used a racial slur against Isaiah Washingtonton, calling him the “N” word. No, I think you all would be demanding T.R. be fired and sued for liable and defamation of character, which makes you hippocrites. I am appalled not only at the bigotry and insensitivity of not only the talent-less, stupid bigot Washington, but also of Shondra Rhimes, ABC executives, and all the people trivializing the significance of this slur. Until Washington is fired, I am boycotting all ABC broadcasts and am encouraging everyone I know to do the same
Calling someone a faggot is not the same as calling someone a Nigger or a Spic or a Chink or any other racial slur! It is not the same, nor does it carry the same kind of animous! Nor is it the same Stigma attached to it.
If Mr. Knight was not in the room… He should not even know what happened. If it was between Washington and Dempsey… two grown ass men, then it should have been between them and that is all. Patrick acts like a punk anyway, and he probably went behind IW’s back acting like a silly little bitch.
Grey’s can and should move on and survive… there is not hypocrisy in this. Black people are always having some kind or another Backlash coming at them, from sorry racist bullshiters, who are more times than not, just jealous… and evil; and don’t want to see anyone Black do well or survive.
Mr. Washington is a very good actor; he said something stupid, but he apologized and moved on… as it seemed most of the cast did.
Blacks have been getting it and taking it forever; the problem here is the White Supremist’s attitude that because Blacks - more than most others - call them out on their racist shit; as if we don’t know when someone is being a pig racist in the first place. Sadly, this attitude of White Supremacy is held by Blacks and others as well, that is why you have a bunch of sick acting Black Gay Males (especially) calling for the demise of this man - in support of a mindset that castigates them every single day… that is pathetic.
As that groveling bitch Rupaul says to his Black Gay Brethren - “You Betta Work! [For Massa, Bitches]!
Let’s hypothetically say Isaiah is a raving homphobic ass. Let’s hypothetically say that he screamed faggotts!!!! at the top of his lungs to a room full of homosexuals. SO WHAT!! I personally feel that it is tragic to carry hostility against any person, especially on the blind basis of race or sexual orientation, but lets be honest. Most of people in America struggle with prejudices of some sort, though not admittedly. And we live in a country where everyone has a right to their own voice, whether that be a bigoted one or not. When did someone’s job get put on the line for holding an opinion, whether politically correct or not. I believe Isaiah was wrong in his outburst, it is unprofessional to have any personal/emotional outburst on the job, and if outbursts persisted, for whatever nature, then and only then should the thoughts of termination be excersized. Isaiah may carry some ideas that don’t please the public, but he is a good actor, period. He should be able to hold any abhorrent belief he chooses without the fear that he may lose his job!! This is America!! I am not a proponent of any person acting in any matter derogatory toward a person of a different sexual orientation, but I am also a proponent of freedom of ideas and speech and do not feel that it is punishable to hold a 1950s Bible Belt concept of the world. I hope abc realizes the position they are in will affect more than just Greys and I hope they keep Isaiah, whether he apologizes, seeks treatment etc. . . . . OR NOT!!! And to those who are freakin out about Isaiah’s outburst and subsequent comments and want him fired, PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH AND SHOW SOME TOLERANCE!!
you can’t speak aginst something that is wrong in the eyes of GOD anymore you become the bad guy.
I watched Isaiah on Larry King tonight, and was wishing I could watch all 3 together. I really don’t understand all this hoo haa, and think IW is a brilliant actor, and fear he is so hurt and angry inside that he might litigate and thus it would look bad for him. I don’t want him to go any further with this. Enough has been said and done. I won’t be nearly as interested in GA without him, but as long as the dice have been cast, I don’t want him or his attorneys as he said to keep it going. That would be so wrong. Bury the hatchet and move on. Prove you’re bigger than those who have tried to shove you down Mr. Washington!! pat
Regarding the Isaiah Washington / T.R. Knight Media Frenzy that was SHOVED down the throats of the viewing public, WHILE TRUE UNDERLYING ISSUES GO UNADDRESSED:
Isaiah Washington whose family history in this country is one of SLAVERY and Segregation and T.R. Knight a white, gay male are INDIVIDUALS who are members of groups who still face discrimination in this country. It would be remiss of me not to point out that one’s sexual orientation can be concealed while the color of one’s skin / ethnic features are in plain site for all to see and America is a country where at one time Lynching Blacks was the sport of the day.
It is an insult to my spiritual evolution as a fellow human being on this planet of EARTH that the MEDIA inundates me and others with Bull$hit words to try to get US to ponder a question of whether or not Isaiah Washington is homophobic – In my heart of hearts (deep in my soul), I KNOW that Isaiah Washington is NOT homophobic. What Isaiah (the INDIVIDUAL) MAY BE is a challenging personality to work with and/or get along with. He may have RAGE issues (go figure, a descendant of SLAVES with rage issues).
There are those who feel that YOU people (Blacks) should JUST GET OVER SLAVERY, it happened a long time ago, move on already. First, and foremost, each of US is an “INDIVIDUAL” who happens to be from Slave Ancestry in America. Most of US are still dealing with issues from Slavery and more recently “Segregation” and DON’T realize it. One cannot begin to address these issues if one does not know that there are issues and where they originate. The Comedian, Chris Rock said it best when he said, America, for Blacks, is like the uncle who pays your way through college, but RAPED you when you were younger. MOST would not tell someone who was RAPED to “Just Get Over It.” A guest from the Oprah Show UPDATED the old adage about “TIME” perfectly when she said, “Time alone does not heal anything, it is what is done in that time that makes the difference” – which are words that resonate in my soul.
It is further insulting, ridiculous, A TOTAL WASTE OF PRECIOUS TIME to have Isaiah Washington in therapy FOR what he said, may or may not have said about T.R. Knight’s sexual orientation and then to have him make what “I Felt” was a Ridiculous public service announcement (BECAUSE OF ITS TIMING – on the heels of the “Gay slur MEDIA FRENZY”) at the end of one of Grey’s episodes. Yes, I believe that Isaiah would greatly benefit from therapy (as would ALL descendants of SLAVES in America) PROVIDED the “REAL” issues are being addressed instead of going to therapy “IN HOPES” of saving one’s job.
Isaiah most likely should have some form of therapy to deal with RAGE issues and/or to develop better life / work coping skills. In the office next door to Isaiah and his therapist should be T.R. Knight with his therapist dealing with T.R.’s issues surrounding his sexual orientation because T.R.’s “reaction” to Isaiah’s behavior is indicative of “ISSUES T.R. Needs to Address.”
I read somewhere someone’s wording to the effect that Isaiah as a black man “should know better” than to use a sexual slur, most likely having had racial slurs directed at him. What we as individuals should know / do know (Intellect) vs. How We Behave (Emotion) most often are light years apart, hence my use of the words “spiritual evolution as fellow human beings.” On a number of occasions I had to “remind” my sister (1 yr. younger than me) that I understand her pain (I can feel her pain); however, she can’t take it out on US (her siblings, her husband, her daughter) because each of us are dealing with our own “personal” life challenges and that WE (her siblings) came from the same “screwed-up” Parents she did.
America STOP THE INSANITY of forcing us to pretend we love/like each other and START PROMOTING getting along with one another in spite of our likes and/or dislikes – Respecting one another’s Right to Co-exist and Benefit EQUALLY from the opportunities that America offers.
The Non-Renewal of Contract / Firing of Isaiah Washington is sooooooo much bigger than the individual. The handling of the situation is a MAJOR SETBACK to race relations in this country. This situation reeks of “OLD, Backwards Thinking” America trying to keep a black man down – keeping him in his place, after all can’t allow him to think he’s equal to a “White” man in America.
NO, Isaiah Washington SHOULD NOT have been fired. Nor should T.R. Knight for the “role” he played in this debacle (he is EQUALLY responsible along with Isaiah for this situation). They should both have been reprimanded and required to attend “REAL” (genuine) therapy sessions. THE ONLY FIRING needed is to “Line the MEDIA up against a wall” and have a FIRING SQUAD unload a Million Rounds of Ammunition into their Low-Life human forms.
At the first sign of friction amongst the diverse cast members it would have BENEFITTED America as a whole to bring in a Therapist / Relationship Expert to address “core” issues before the “Parasitic” MEDIA could get wind of “trouble” on the set.
With the absence of Isaiah, I have NO interest in Grey’s Anatomy and I will no longer watch the show. SHAME ON Any and ALL individuals who played a part in the firing of Isaiah Washington – UNDO THIS ! ! !
I hope my “words are received” in the spirit in which they are intended – Honest, Respectful, America RACE discussion.