Isaiah Washington says his on-set dust-up with co-star Patrick Dempsey last month was blown out of proportion and that everyone on the show is having "a great time."
At the opening night party for the Skin + Bones: Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture exhibit at L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday, Washington was asked by People about the on-set argument and if things were all good on the Grey's Anatomy set these days.
"Everything was good on the set four weeks ago," he said.
He joked that he's bought stock in a tabloid-magazine company because they "make so much money off of us." The media coverage "was disappointing," he said, "but now I'm a shareholder. I'm a businessman."
Washington and Dempsey discussed the fracas (for which Washington later issued an apology in a statement) on The Oprah Winfrey Show in a special segment that aired Friday.
"I lost my cool, but it wasn't coming out of a place of animus for Patrick or (costar) T.R. Knight or anyone. It was coming out of a place of trying to stay focused about the work," Washington told Winfrey, who visited the Grey's set for the interviews. "I've been working with these beautiful men for three years now, and we had an argument as brothers. It came about at a time and a place that was overwhelming for both of us."
Washington clarified: "What it was not, was a brawl."
Patrick Dempsey says the ensemble is stronger after the incident.
"I think what happens is we needed to just be open and be able to communicate and not let things build up. I think we've come to that point where it's much freer to communicate with each other, and we're more relaxed because of it. I think the whole company's tighter," Dempsey said.
At the MOCA event, Washington added that working with Shonda Rhimes on Grey's Anatomy is the "opportunity of a lifetime." He added that he can't wait to see the Thanksgiving episode.
"Cristina and Burke have their opportunity to kind of get sweaty," he said. "It was a lot of fun."
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14 Comments
November 20th, 2006 7:45 PM
Of course I cannot miss an opportunity to respond to a post about Isaiah Washington. Don't you just wish people would stop asking about his and focus more on his acting and his character on GA? Thanks for another great picture and also for some good news about Cristina and Burke getting sweaty. I think we saw the sweaty part on the promo, but it was fun to watch as much as it was disturbing. I really do think it is a nightmare that she is having, but the other sneak preview on YouTube that shows them arguing looks like real time. It makes me sad because he really wounds her with his words, but at the same time I think he needed to say the things he says and he needs to take charge of his life again. You can tell in his eyes that he feels bad about hurting her. I think the upcoming weeks will be about their mending their relationship and becoming stronger because of all of this. I am hopeful.
November 20th, 2006 7:59 PM
I agree, there has been too many thing unsaid, and that's the main reason why this has escalated. Burke and Cristina's relationship has definitely grown, but they still have work to do as far as communicating their feels, in words that is. I've seen the steamy love scene, and it is steamy! They definitely don't have a problem there.
November 20th, 2006 7:59 PM
hey burke backer...i don't know if you get tv tguide, but i just got the one for next week...there is an article about isaiah washington visiting Sierra lenone. I emailed steve about it so maybe they will post it on this site.
November 20th, 2006 8:13 PM
IW has a great sense of humor!
November 20th, 2006 10:42 PM
Thanks for the information, Purplemerder. I have to grocery shop for Thanksgiving tomorrow night and will try to find it. Greysanatomyinsider does a great job of keeping us up to date on everything written, don't they? I really appreciate it. It's nice sometimes though to have the hard copy. I love anything with Isaiah in it or on it as long as they aren't bashing him.
November 21st, 2006 1:07 PM
Burke Baker not sure if it will be out yet. It is for next week so it might not be out until Sunday.
November 21st, 2006 6:36 PM
The one in my store still had Kate Walsh and Eric Dane on the cover. I'll be looking for it over the weekend though.
November 22nd, 2006 3:07 PM
The one with the article has the actors from bones on the cover. It should be out this weekend or Monday at the latest. Bones is a good show too. have you watched it Burker Backer? Don't know if you like that kind of show...but it is good. Happy thanksgiving. 29 more hours.........till show time.
November 22nd, 2006 5:18 PM
Hi perplemurder, yes I used to watch Bones either right before or right after House. I liked the interaction between the two lead characters in that show, too. I haven't seen it yet this season. I think it's on at a timie or on a night that I am just not free. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. I am going to be having my family over and am baking pies tonight, stuffing turkey in the morning. It is usually one of my favorite days. Tomorrow I'm going to be on pins and needles waiting for Greys. It comes on at 8:00 here. Hopefully everyone will be gone by then. If not they will just have to watch with me.
November 22nd, 2006 7:36 PM
Hi Burke Backer - Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday too. I am sad that this year I had to have it early. We ate on Saturday because my family that lives here in town had to go out of town. So I am going to serve Thanksgiving to the needy at my church. I can't wait until tomorrow night. Hope your pies turn out amazing and hope you have a great time with family...you will have to tell them if they are still there that they have to be silent from 8 to 9:10...only speak on commercials..
you have missed out if you haven't watched Bones this season. They added a new character the guy that was the boss of the musem is not on anymore and they have this actress on there Tamara Taylor is her real name...can't remeber what she has played in...anyway her and Booth used to me involved so it is really interesting between bones and booth and his old love interest who now is bones' boss....wow and last episode bones and one of her squids (that is what booth calls them) are buried alive...it was intense...well there is an article in the tv guide, the one with Isaiah Washington, so you can see who that actress in. anyway have a good day tomorrow.
I am rooting for burke and christina.....and maybe we can see a little snuggling between merder.