Considering Isaiah is noted to be hothead this was long time coming for this person. This is the first time he was actually reprimanded. I don't care if the comment was direct at T.R. or not it was still directed at Patrick in a very negative matter. That is a slur word of hate. This is not the first time Isaiah had incidents on the set. ABC and Shonda did muzzle the cast for a good three months. The only one that blew that gag order was Isaiah. The moment he did that he threw everything at the window. When Katie said "I thrown down for that kid" was actually humor. It's not that hard to tell when Katie serious or being light-hearted. Her voice volume changes as does her expression. The cast was muzzled for three months because of that it snow balled out of control. Katie has showed support for Isaiah's efforts to get better, and has supported T.R. Even if the cast said "no comment" the fanbase would still be speculating. I find it ironic that the cast are handling this far better with tact than the internet fanbase of GA.
Burke Backer Says:
January 31st, 2007 10:54 PM
Thanks Rose and TexasGreyFan. I get carried away sometimes and I'm glad you understand that I don't mean to be offensive. Your support of Isaiah here and other places on the web where I have read comments that I believe are from you is greatly appreciated. He needs to know that he has fans who believe in him and want him to remain in the role of Burke.
Purplemerder, I'm sorry. I was not saying that we are not still friends on this website. I hope that we are. I was not sure that you wanted to be friends any longer considering that I continue to support Isaiah and you have spoken out against him pretty strongly lately. We don't have to agree on everything. It just surprised me when you took a position that was anti-Isaiah in several posts after being so supportive when we went through this in October. We can disagree and still be friends, but I hope that you will at least keep an open mind that everything might not be quite what it seems or the way it has been portrayed in the media.
You said you weren't sure what Katie could have said, I think the best thing would simply be to say she didn't know anything and talk about her dress. In retrospect, while I wish she hadn't commented and her statements made me bristle, I suppose they might not have been so bad. Perhpas I am still upset with her for her tirade after the GGs and so was hyper critical of her statements at the SAG awards. I just think her holding onto this indignation on TR's account, as she apparently is, will not help TR and Isaiah get over their differences.
I still don't believe Isaiah lied at the Golden Globes. TR and Isaiah have different versions of what happened and no one else has stepped forward to say which one is telling the truth or is giving the more accurate account. There is clearly a difference between what Isaiah believes he said and what TR believes he overheard.
While I have no doubt that Isaiah is sorry for embarrassing his castmates and Shonda at the GGs and is sorry for offending TR whether intentional or not, he has never said that he called TR a slur. He apologized for using the word and is trying to make amends to the gay community and is doing some soul searching through therapy to see if he has issues which even he is unaware.
I was very disappointed in Isaiah for saying anything in response to Ted Casablanca at the Golden Globes. But I do not think he used the word inappropriately by telling his side of the story. TR himself used the word on the Ellen show to tell his side of the story. If it isn't a word to be uttered, than that should go for both actors. So, for me it was embarrassing at the GGs. It was not well thought out. But it wasn't malicious. I can't dislike him for that.
I know exactly how you feel about just wanting to sit on the couch and watch your favorite show and not have all of this controversy. I feel the same way.
Burke Backer Says:
January 31st, 2007 11:21 PM
Hi Melissa, There was nothing in the press over a fifteen year career about Isaiah being a hothead until it became monetarily advantageous for someone to suddenly remember an incident from years ago to report just now. It is hard to know what to believe of all of the nonsense printed, but I am always skeptical of anyone who suddenly has a story to tell when they are paid handsomely to tell it, but didn't feel it was important to report before the person became the focus of the media. Others that he has worked with including Jim Pickens and Jeffrey Dean Morgan have said that Isaiah is intense and passionate about his work, but is not threatening or aggressive. Sandra Oh says that he very funny and she wishes he had more opportunity as Burke to show that side. The interesting thing to me is try as they undoubtedly have, the media could not find anyone to step forward with any incidents in the past that indicated Isaiah has been anti-gay.
We apparently saw the interview with Katherine Heigl after the Globes very differently. I saw her as anything but light hearted. Her comments were divisive and, while supportive of TR, they were hurtful to Isaiah. Then she kind of caught herself, realized that she herself might be in trouble for talking to the press, and tried to make light of it a bit. It didn't work. She was quoted all over the media as making serious threats to Isaiah if he hurt her friend. Calling TR a kid when he is considerably older than her was a little bit telling. Leading him by the hand up on the stage to receive the SAG award was also mildly disturbing. It is lovely that they are friends. however, I hope rather than helping each other nurse their perceived wounds they will look at the bigger picture of what this controversy is doing to the collegiality on the show and will try to mend what has been broken. People disappoint us and offend us. When that happens we hope they apologize as Isaiah has done repeatedly. We then accept the apology and movie on. That's kind of what adults do.
Burke Backer - we are still friends. I have in the past usually always support IW....it just all got blown up again...i didn't want him to be fired and hope that all the cast can do their job in a nonhostile environment.....
i know everything might not be as it seems..and yes we do see things differnt but that is okay...but i didn't want you to lump me in the category with all the other anit-IW people that were rude and calling names.....i tried to state my opinion without name calling....
January 31st, 2007 5:00 PM
Considering Isaiah is noted to be hothead this was long time coming for this person. This is the first time he was actually reprimanded. I don't care if the comment was direct at T.R. or not it was still directed at Patrick in a very negative matter. That is a slur word of hate. This is not the first time Isaiah had incidents on the set. ABC and Shonda did muzzle the cast for a good three months. The only one that blew that gag order was Isaiah. The moment he did that he threw everything at the window. When Katie said "I thrown down for that kid" was actually humor. It's not that hard to tell when Katie serious or being light-hearted. Her voice volume changes as does her expression. The cast was muzzled for three months because of that it snow balled out of control. Katie has showed support for Isaiah's efforts to get better, and has supported T.R. Even if the cast said "no comment" the fanbase would still be speculating. I find it ironic that the cast are handling this far better with tact than the internet fanbase of GA.
January 31st, 2007 10:54 PM
Thanks Rose and TexasGreyFan. I get carried away sometimes and I'm glad you understand that I don't mean to be offensive. Your support of Isaiah here and other places on the web where I have read comments that I believe are from you is greatly appreciated. He needs to know that he has fans who believe in him and want him to remain in the role of Burke.
Purplemerder, I'm sorry. I was not saying that we are not still friends on this website. I hope that we are. I was not sure that you wanted to be friends any longer considering that I continue to support Isaiah and you have spoken out against him pretty strongly lately. We don't have to agree on everything. It just surprised me when you took a position that was anti-Isaiah in several posts after being so supportive when we went through this in October. We can disagree and still be friends, but I hope that you will at least keep an open mind that everything might not be quite what it seems or the way it has been portrayed in the media.
You said you weren't sure what Katie could have said, I think the best thing would simply be to say she didn't know anything and talk about her dress. In retrospect, while I wish she hadn't commented and her statements made me bristle, I suppose they might not have been so bad. Perhpas I am still upset with her for her tirade after the GGs and so was hyper critical of her statements at the SAG awards. I just think her holding onto this indignation on TR's account, as she apparently is, will not help TR and Isaiah get over their differences.
I still don't believe Isaiah lied at the Golden Globes. TR and Isaiah have different versions of what happened and no one else has stepped forward to say which one is telling the truth or is giving the more accurate account. There is clearly a difference between what Isaiah believes he said and what TR believes he overheard.
While I have no doubt that Isaiah is sorry for embarrassing his castmates and Shonda at the GGs and is sorry for offending TR whether intentional or not, he has never said that he called TR a slur. He apologized for using the word and is trying to make amends to the gay community and is doing some soul searching through therapy to see if he has issues which even he is unaware.
I was very disappointed in Isaiah for saying anything in response to Ted Casablanca at the Golden Globes. But I do not think he used the word inappropriately by telling his side of the story. TR himself used the word on the Ellen show to tell his side of the story. If it isn't a word to be uttered, than that should go for both actors. So, for me it was embarrassing at the GGs. It was not well thought out. But it wasn't malicious. I can't dislike him for that.
I know exactly how you feel about just wanting to sit on the couch and watch your favorite show and not have all of this controversy. I feel the same way.
January 31st, 2007 11:21 PM
Hi Melissa, There was nothing in the press over a fifteen year career about Isaiah being a hothead until it became monetarily advantageous for someone to suddenly remember an incident from years ago to report just now. It is hard to know what to believe of all of the nonsense printed, but I am always skeptical of anyone who suddenly has a story to tell when they are paid handsomely to tell it, but didn't feel it was important to report before the person became the focus of the media. Others that he has worked with including Jim Pickens and Jeffrey Dean Morgan have said that Isaiah is intense and passionate about his work, but is not threatening or aggressive. Sandra Oh says that he very funny and she wishes he had more opportunity as Burke to show that side. The interesting thing to me is try as they undoubtedly have, the media could not find anyone to step forward with any incidents in the past that indicated Isaiah has been anti-gay.
We apparently saw the interview with Katherine Heigl after the Globes very differently. I saw her as anything but light hearted. Her comments were divisive and, while supportive of TR, they were hurtful to Isaiah. Then she kind of caught herself, realized that she herself might be in trouble for talking to the press, and tried to make light of it a bit. It didn't work. She was quoted all over the media as making serious threats to Isaiah if he hurt her friend. Calling TR a kid when he is considerably older than her was a little bit telling. Leading him by the hand up on the stage to receive the SAG award was also mildly disturbing. It is lovely that they are friends. however, I hope rather than helping each other nurse their perceived wounds they will look at the bigger picture of what this controversy is doing to the collegiality on the show and will try to mend what has been broken. People disappoint us and offend us. When that happens we hope they apologize as Isaiah has done repeatedly. We then accept the apology and movie on. That's kind of what adults do.
February 1st, 2007 2:02 PM
Burke Backer - we are still friends. I have in the past usually always support IW....it just all got blown up again...i didn't want him to be fired and hope that all the cast can do their job in a nonhostile environment.....
i know everything might not be as it seems..and yes we do see things differnt but that is okay...but i didn't want you to lump me in the category with all the other anit-IW people that were rude and calling names.....i tried to state my opinion without name calling....