Isaiah Washington Apologizes, Admits Conduct Unacceptable, Will Seek Help
Under fire by both ABC and gay leaders, Isaiah Washington has apologized for what he called his "unacceptable in any context" comments about gay co-star T.R. Knight at Golden Globe Awards Monday night.
"I can neither defend nor explain my behavior," Washington said in a statement, according to People. "I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help."
Apologizing to "T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community," Isaiah Washington said he "marred what should have been a perfect night" for Grey's Anatomy and hurt both Knight and "everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted.
"T.R.'s courage throughout this entire episode speaks to his tremendous character. I hold his talent, and T.R. as a person, in high esteem. I know a mere apology will not end this, and I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity," Washington said.
Washington, who plays Dr. Preston Burke on the hit ABC show, denied in the pressroom at the Golden Globes on Monday that he ever used a gay slur in reference to Knight.
"No, I did not call T.R. a faggot," said Washington. "Never happened, never happened."
But during an appearance Wednesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Knight said that Washington did use the word during an on-set argument with co-star Patrick Dempsey in October.
"He referred to me as a faggot," he told DeGeneres. "Everyone heard it."
Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), said Thursday night that Washington "has scheduled a meeting with us for early next week, and we look forward to exploring opportunities for moving forward and healing some of the wounds of the past four months."
Earlier GLAAD had demanded that Washington apologize for his actions. Some fans have also circulated a petition online to have the actor fired.
ABC has responded by saying that Washington's remarks at the Golden Globe Awards were unacceptable and are being addressed.
"We have a long standing policy to create and maintain respectful workplaces for all our employees," the network said in a statement.
"We dealt with the original situation in October, and thought the issue resolved. Therefore, we are greatly dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, language that he himself deemed 'unfortunate' in his previous public apology. We take this situation very seriously. His actions are unacceptable and are being addressed."
January 19th, 2007 8:21 AM
Thank you, Isaiah, for being man enough to apologize, yet again, for one word uttered in anger and not directed at TR or any other gay person. I hope that the haters will turn their attention to someone more worthy of that emotion. I don't know if ABC/Touchstone will think it is enough for you to publicly apologize, face your castmates so that they can all tell you how they feel (hopefully you will get your chance to tell them how you feel as well), and seek counseling of some sort for uttereing one word, one time, not directed at anyone gay, and then trying to defend yourself against a constant barrage of gay friendly media. Hopefully you will be able to remain on GA because you are far more than a support character. You are 1/2 of one of the most interesting couples on television and no one else can embody that character the way that you have. You have helped to create him from the start. I hope that anyone who loves this character and respects this actor inspite of one word uttered in anger, one time on a closed set, and not intended to wound or hurt anyone, will put messages on whatever online boards they have access to in support of Isaiah, because there are head hunters out there who have once again blown this whole thing completely out of proportion to what was originally said and done. He needs our support and he certainly has mine.
January 19th, 2007 9:31 AM
"...for being man enough to apologize, yet again, for one word uttered in anger and not directed at TR or any other gay person."
What planet do you live on? At whom it was directed, Patrick?
January 19th, 2007 9:51 AM
This is one fan who WILL quit watching if IW is asked to leave. He is the only one who can play Dr. Burke and does so exceptionally. I agree, BB, this has been blown completely out of proportion - these people are coworkers for heavens sake and every now and then coworkers clash - it doesn't mean folks should be calling for his resignation as I heard on my radio station this morning. What is wrong with this world - people make mistakes every now and then.....eveyone needs to get over it and get back to work.
January 19th, 2007 10:12 AM
This happened two times (that we know of), and second time it wasn't a mistake, it was on purpose. Please keep in mind that he also made some comments on the red carpet prior to the event, and that TR himself said nothing happened, when they were asked about it during press conference, but then Mr. Washington stepped in and performed his stunt.
I guess turning a blind eye on all of this and ignoring facts makes it easier to look at ourselves in the mirror.
Oh, the ignorance...
January 19th, 2007 10:51 AM
I am a very big fan of GA. I am also a very big fan of TR and IW. Being a fan shouldn't mean that we turn a deaf ear to one's mistakes either. I believe IW has some issues with the gay community that he needs to address and resolve and he does not need to take his frustrations out on TR. I also believe the media is blowing this way out of porpotion. We live in a society that is hyper-sensitive to everything. I think we have a tendency to allow the media guide our thoughts as to how we should think and feel about any subject matter. I don't think IW should be forced to resign, but I do think he needs to take some time to seek some help and resolve his issues. I think he needs to do more than apologize to TR. IW of all people should no better than to make descriminatory, gratuitous comments about one's sexual preference when he himself has experienced his own discriminations for his ethnicity. We have a forgiving society. I think he should take some time to redeem himself. I don't think he needs to kiss the public's bottom. This is between TR and IW.
January 19th, 2007 11:15 AM
i believe it was blown out of proportion as well. i am in no way condoning his choice of words, however, i do feel the situation should have remained in the workplace and not leaked out to the public. the media created this frenzy and amplified everyone's emotions surrounding it. IW is being crucified for goodness sakes. he has tried to make amends more than once, albeit his manner in doing so was more than questionable. nonetheless numerous apologies were given. i think these last comments which include the denial were his attempt to lay the media scrutiny to rest. (hopefully his private apologies to TRK and PD acknowledged his mistake and were heartfelt and sincere.) however, KH and TRK's public comments have heightened the situation yet again. as far owing the entire gay community an apology, that's just ridiculous. this is between the 3 actors involved and no one else. everyone else needs to just let it be, let them be, and enjoy the show. if there is any more said he truly will be in danger of losing his job and that would be a terrible, awful thing. he is a wonderful actor and preston burke is IW. no one could fill his shoes on grey's anatomy.
and please don't hurt me because of my comments -- i'm little! lol ;)
January 19th, 2007 11:41 AM
well i am glad that IW is once again apoligizes and he is going to do what he needs to inorder to make this okay....
Now lets all concentrate on the show...........
January 19th, 2007 11:53 AM
This has been said before, but I wonder how Burke Backer would have reacted if someone had called Isaiah Washington or spoken about him in a racist fashion...
January 19th, 2007 12:01 PM
Sorry, but this whole thing is NOT of the media's making. Last October's frakas was laid to rest until IW stupidly gave it the light of day again on Monday night at the GG's and out and out lied on top of it. KH was right, he should not speak in public. I'm tired of this kind of behavior from people who should know better. An apology is great the first time something happens, but not the second time. I don't know whether IW should be fired over it, but I don't think it would be a great loss to the show if he was. I know others feel differently, and I respect your views. Obviously, some of you think his actions were no big deal. But for many of us, his remarks are very hurtful and demeaning. Not something you just "get over."
And please also notice that his apology only came after been officially chastised by ABC and he realized his job might be on the line. That's about as insincere an apology as I've ever heard. A forced apology has no meaning.
January 19th, 2007 1:43 PM
I'm glad he apologized. I know people are hurt, but we as fans of the show need to start taking steps forward too and not continue to argue the subject. I heard on the news that people are boycotting the show until he's fired. People, TR is suffering too if the show isn't being watched. We shouldn't penalize such a talented cast and crew for this. I know its a big deal, but the worst thing we can do is blow it up even bigger. We need to let them move on!
January 19th, 2007 3:47 PM
I'm glad that he apologized but something should be done to him. This is twice now that he's said it. The first time might have been a slip of the tongue and said out in anger but it still hurt T.R. What his excuse this time? This subject was almost dead and he alone brought it back to life. And another thing, there is a big double standard because if T.R were to turn around and call Isaiah the n-word because he's gotten fed up with being called the f-word T.R. would be fired by the end of the day. But T.R. is being a bigger man about it. God Bless him because I, for one, know that if someone kept provoking me I would come out swinging.
January 19th, 2007 6:03 PM
I also feel I need to wade in and defend IW in this mess. As many have said it is just a sympton of how much power and influence the media wields and how we as thinking human beings need to get a grip, take a step back and view this dispassionately.
This was a workplace incident between 3 people that got out of hand because of - the media. They and the network have tried to deal with the fallout and the dust had settled (doubtful) until unfortunately IW made a mistake and here we all go again villifying him from our pulpits. He did not repeat faggot to humiliate TRK or insult gay people, he was simply (mistakenly) trying to end what had obviously been a painful subject for him and everyone else. He went about it in a clumsy manner but I am convinced he meant no harm. What is also sad is how unforgiving and one-sided KH appears to be and how TRK is so not over this despite declarations by all and sundry that they had all "moved on". Clearly it has never been so and I am so afraid that this time there will be no rest till IW's head is served up on a platter.
If that happens I do not think I will be watching GA again not because I am trying to make a statement but it will not be as exciting for me. Goodness knows there is so much to watch out there that whatever I do see must have meaning in some form or the other for me to enjoy it. Burke is the best part of the show for me.
Hello ladies, it's been a while. Hope you are all well. (despite all the controversy) especially you BB.
January 19th, 2007 6:30 PM
Yes, MP. It was directed at Patrick. Isaiah told Patirck, "I am not your faggot." What planet do you live on that you don't already know this?
January 19th, 2007 6:33 PM
Grey, on the red carpet, Isaiah did not call anyone a slur. He said that he did not call TR a faggot. He was defending himself against false statements and misrepresentation of what happened. He used the word in anger once on a closed set and not directed at TR. This is part of the problem. People have their minds made up without having the accurate information. There are far worse people in the world for us to focus on.
January 19th, 2007 6:47 PM
Thatericguy, that is just the problem. You don't know anything about this man. You don't know if his apology was sincere or not. You are making an assumption that he was forced to do it. I don't think he had nearly enough help in working through the fallout from the first incident and he obviously didn't have very good advice about how to help himself in this situation since he made matters much worse by discussing it yet again after the GGs. However, I do believe his apology was sincere and I do not believe he lied. He did not call TR a faggot from his perspective. He used the word in an argument with Patirck. I don't believe he even knew TR was in hearing distance. That is what he said and also what TR, Patrick, and Jim Pickens said. TR said he overheard Isaiah refer to him as a faggot during the argument between Isaiah and Patrick. He didn't say he called him one to his face. Now maybe it is just semantics and obviously this is not a word to be thrown around even on a closed set during an argument, but it is not the same thing as calling TR a faggot to his face in a hurtful, mean spirited way that indicated his feelings for his castmate. It is not the same thing at all. People who are out to get Burke, whom I happen to think is a very important character on the show, do not want to take into consideration the circumstances or context or intent. They simply want to blame, hate, and demand. That's what I take exception to. If Isaiah were someone who has had trouble with the other members of the GA cast all along and this was just a sample of bad behavior, I would feel differently. But this was, as far as we know from any reliable source the only time he has had a problem on the set of GA in several years. And it was one incident. The unprofessional way he addressed it at the GGs was not an altercation with his castmates. It was trying to set the record straight with the media. He apologized. There is no reason not to accept the apology and move on.
January 19th, 2007 7:05 PM
Okay, this is my last response to the nonsense on this comment section because you all know by this point in time that I am a strong supporter of Isaiah Washington. Nikki, you have no idea what would have happened if anyone had called Isaiah the N word. You have no idea if anyone has called Isaiah the N word on the set or anywhere else for that matter. That is all nonsense and speculation. Last Monday Isaiah was trying to set the record straight. He did it in a clumsy and embarrassing way. It was wrong. But, it was not calling anyone a name, it was saying that he did not call anyone a name to begin with. I feel very sorry for Isaiah. I don't think anyone at GA or ABC/touchstone took any time at all to help Isaiah deal with the backlash from the inital episode. I don't think they helped him understand how to respond to the media or offered him any guidance. I don't think they acknowledged the pain he was in having so many fans turn against him for one word spoken in anger without intent to hurt TR. These are all people not used to the kind of attention that being on GA has given them. He was left out there on his own when someone on the set sold him out to the tabloids, as Patrick said in his interview. This is a man who needed some help and didn't get it. He was trying to defend himself against the continuous guestions by the press and bad jokes by the preshow interviewers like Ryan Seacrest. Should he have said anything to the reporter after the GGs, no. Clearly he should not. But someone other than Isaiah needed to speak up for him. If this is all about a misunderstanding between castmates, it needs to be handled by the people involved. The media attention has made it worse and threatens to ruin the show, because frankly, as angry as some of you are at Isaiah is as angry as I am at George and Katherine Heigl. I don't think it is very brave to go on national television with a gay hostess and talk about being gay when you have the support of everyone. It is lovely for you, but it made Isaiah out to be a liar when it was a misinterpretation of what was said. He should have been talking to Isaiah about why he was offended. He should have been talking to Isaiah to find out his feelings surrounding the whole thing. And KH really needs to stop the theatrics. She was almost quoting line for line her speech to Cristina about giving the scrub cap back to Burke. All of it should have been handled privately. I love the show. I don't want anything to drastically change. Everyone else needs to butt out and let them heal the hurt feelings and move on. If anyone is fired over the use of the word faggot one time in an argument there is really something wrong with the world and many of the sanctimonious people in it.
January 19th, 2007 7:37 PM
he called him faggot in two different events and got away with it?
nobody in their positions would have gotten away with calling anyone a nigger. it's as simple as that.
January 19th, 2007 8:06 PM
Okay, here a thought Why don't you let the cast work this out themselves. IW didn't apology because of ABC. He had to stand back and realize just what had been done, and find a way to make amends. The cast are hurting, including IW, and their trying to find a way to work through this. Why don't we just let them. IW leaving GA is not the solution, it wouldn't be the same. IW and SO have lots of fans, and we would like to see it continue. People just need to let them work this out. Yes, he made a mistake again, but he still should be given another chance. I think he should be given the three strikes rule.
January 19th, 2007 8:22 PM
BB - You go girl......couldn't have said it all any better myself!
January 19th, 2007 8:41 PM
TR said he didn't know why he said what he said, and my question is why didn't he ask. This has gone to far, and they need to work it out amongst themselve (IW, TR and the GA cast), and they can if people would just step back and let them.
January 19th, 2007 8:51 PM
First its, he needs to apologize, then once he apolgizes, then it not enough, or he's not sincere. Well, it may not be enough for you, but why you let the people involved decide that.
January 19th, 2007 10:15 PM
Ok, Sandra Oh has been working with IW the most in the show. Apparently, apparently, she does NOT have any problem with him.
So what is the complain. Faggot is not a nice word. It is derogatory, but so what?
I am Chinese, and if someone calls me Chink, I wouldn't be offended..because while Chink is used as a derogatory term, I don't take defense to heart..because that is not who I am...
and Honestly, this DOES look like a publicity stunt..as No Publicity is BAD PUBLICITY..
i am just so tired of this..
i want to see the characters arch over...
January 19th, 2007 10:29 PM
I AM SO UPSET ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION. I WOULD THINK THAT A MAN OF COLOR WHO I AM SURE HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF IGNORANCE AT SOME POINT OF HIS LIFE (WE ALL HAVE) WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE MORE COMPASSION FOR HIS FELLOW CAST MATES BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH THE DAY TO DAY HATE THAT IS DISHED OUT LEFT AND RIGHT BY SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. PERSONALLY I DONT BELIEVE A MAN WHO CALLS ANOTHER MAN A "FAGGOT" HAS THE ABILITY THE WRITE SUCH A HEARTFELT APOLOGY, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE DID THE APOLOGIZING FOR HIM AND I DONT BELIEVE HE IS SORRY. I THINK IT IS TIME TO REPLACE WASHINGTON!
January 19th, 2007 11:15 PM
This is just getting so ridiculous, he can't win. He makes the apology, and their still something to say, if he didn't make the apology, there would still be something said. Well, you know what that says... Unbelievable!! This is why the outsiders need to butt out.
January 19th, 2007 11:16 PM
SO IS ISAIAH WASHINGTON FIRED OR NOT? I AM SO CONFUSEDD