Should Isaiah Washington Be Fired?
Should Isaiah Washington be fired from Grey's Anatomy for the gay slur he made in reference to T.R. Knight last fall?
The remark - which has come back to dominate entertainment news again after Washington's denial of the incident at Monday's Golden Globe Awards and T.R. Knight confirming to Ellen DeGeneres today that it did occur - is fueling intense debate among Grey's Anatomy fans and various organizations.
Some think that the issue has been dead for some time and should just be dropped, while others believe Washington should be let go. Count Michael Ausiello - the TV Guide sleuth who can always be counted on to find the latest dirt and tell you how he feels about it - among the latter.
Here's what he says on his blog, the Ausiello Report, responding to a reader inquiry as to whether he witnessed the Golden Globe implosion:
"I certainly was there, and I have the internal scars to prove it. It was by far the ugliest, most uncomfortable press-room moment I have ever experienced. And judging by the shell-shocked faces on the cast â" particularly T.R. Knight and Patrick Dempsey, who have been class acts throughout this entire ordeal â" it was a new low for them, too.
What's ironic about the whole thing is that in Washington's attempt to clear his name, he came off as an out-of-control homophobe who throws the f-word around like it's candy. He's also playing fast and loose with the truth. Did he call T.R. a fa***t to his face? No. Did he refer to him as one behind his back? Yes. T.R. says so himself on today's Ellen DeGeneres Show.
His continued employment on a show that wears its diversity as a badge of honor is the height of hypocrisy. If ABC wants to be remotely true to the principles Shonda Rhimes so eloquently espouses through the show, it has to do the right thing and fire Washington. Anything else at this point is simply unacceptable."
That's just the opinion of one TV critic. But the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is also demanding an apology.
The group's president, Neil Giuliano, said that the remark "does more than create a hostile environment for his castmates and the crew of Grey's Anatomy... It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm's way."
GLAAD has contacted Washington in hopes of setting up a meeting with the actor to raise public awareness about the destructive impact of comments such as this. No word yet on whether he or anyone associated with Grey's Anatomy have been reached or accepted the offer.
January 17th, 2007 7:58 PM
I don't know that he should be fired from the show...i just think he should not deny saying it....he doesn't owe anyone but the cast and crew and those involved with an apology and that is if it causes problems on the set....
He doesn't need to apoligize to anyone else or any other organization. I think it was dropped until IW said what he said in the wrong forum....
January 17th, 2007 8:06 PM
I don't know that he should be fired... that's kind of jumping the shark don't ya think?
i think sticking him in that hospital bed all season is pretty genious punishment on shonda's part. i say keep his part minimal til he quits
January 17th, 2007 8:08 PM
okay .. let me be the first to say this .. if washington was fired from grey's anatomy it would totally ruin the future for the show. i could almost promise it. personally .. i don't think something that extreme would be in the picture. but i'm not in show business so i wouldn't know. but i do think that it's common sense that if you let go one of the main characters of a show .. it's going to go downhill from there. you can't expect the show to come back after a loss like that. even for a show as great as grey's anatomy. if it was one of the more "less important" characters .. say a nurse .. then it wouldn't be as big of a deal. but this is just taking the whole blow out to new heights. i think washington knows that he did the wrong thing when making the slur .. i don't think that he meant it at all the way it came out. i'm not one to take up for his character .. i'm not much for him .. but i do think it is 100% idiotic to let a character like that go. he helps build the base of the show. it would all come crashing down if washington left the show. yes i do think he needs to come to his senses a little and be more mature about the situation. but then again it is terribly hard to remain mature in situations where you are the blame. for many people .. including myself .. it's hard to accept the fact that you've done something wrong. especially in the show business .. and to own up to that is showing your loyality to your job. i think washington knows he did wrong .. and in that meeting i think he just went with his thoughts before he actually thought about them. you can't say you've never did that. he just did it at the wrong time. eventually .. i do think washington will come to his senses and say he did say the slur towards t.r and that he is sorry. i just think it's going to take a little more time for the whole thing to sink in. i still don't think he understands how truly hurtful it was. but i think if he gives it a little while to sink in .. he'll realize why everyones making such a big deal of it.
January 17th, 2007 8:25 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asaAGUAcbSM
well click on this and you will hear IW saying his side and also KH....i personally am more upset by watching him deny it over and over on this clip.... what would TR have to benefit by saying IW said it if he didn't that would cause more problems on the set.
January 17th, 2007 8:38 PM
I feel that he owes a very big apology to not just T.R but to everyone. But to fire him is too drastic and he should be given the chance to accept his mistake and reform himself. It looks to me that he was trying very hard to clear his name during the Golden Globes and it just came out all wrong.
January 17th, 2007 9:06 PM
How does it benefit the show by TR going on Ellen, unless he's leaving and wants to sabotage the show out of revenge. If TR was hurt by the statement then he should let IW know, and give IW the opportunity to apologize. Like I said, he wasn't doing it to hurt him. No one knew he was upset.
No, IW shouldn't be let go.
January 17th, 2007 9:18 PM
No IW should not be fired.
I agree that IW used inappropriate words to reply to the media at the GG Press Conference and used the wrong forum to respond to the media about this issue. He spoke in the heat of the moment.
This man has been judged on what has been perceived to be the truth based on sound bites and conversations out of context. This is so wrong.
We were not present when the altercation first transpired. We are depending on others perception and their own biases of the situation to provide us a synopsis of the truth. It has been analysed and misconstrued, rehashed and everyone with a spin has put their two cents in. Even by their own earlier admissions KH and TR were not present when IW and PD had their altercation. Words "sound" different in print.
KH was just as inappropriate in talking to the media - talk to your HR department, your boss or have a face to face with IW. I perceive this to be a self serving headline grabber and she is now out there 293 on AP wires all over the word. Should translate into more roles for her.
Who is Michael Aisello - who cares? Is he an executive at ABC does he sign the cheques at GA. Ah...another headline grabber - should work for him too.
What is needed is understanding that to err is human, that everyone needs forgiveness and to soothe raw nerves. These individuals need to resolve this issue minus the world and heal the wounds.
We need not circle the wagons and lynch Mr. Washington for his words. He made a mistake...just like Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks), he said words, some which may never be taken back but it is just words. He didn't kill anyone.
"Let the first person without sins cast the first stone...".
January 17th, 2007 9:32 PM
I don't think Isaiah should be fired. Yes he said something he shouldn't have. Yes it hurt someone in the process. But should be be fired for that? I don't think so. The hypocrisy would be massive if they did. The only reason this came to the public eye is because Grey's Anatomy is the biggest show on network television. If it were a smaller show then nothing would have been said about it. It would have slide under the table and have been forgotten. But because Grey's is so big this incident has received lots of publicity. I'm sure that this happens on many other sets for shows, movies, etc. If they fire Washington they should go to the set of every single show and fire everyone who has ever uttered the "F" word.
Another thing to consider. Shouldn't it be up to TR if he doesn't want to work with Isaiah anymore? TR was the one hurt most by it and he seems to have been able to get over it. He has actually become stronger because of it.
I'm not defending hate slurring against homosexuals. But this has been taken way out of proportion. I say just let it die and let us enjoy our show. To me this is just another blip on the radar that needs to be forgotten not brought up time and time again.
January 17th, 2007 9:50 PM
I think it would be a great loss to the show without Burke, and I would hate for the show - the material - to suffer after this public blow.
I don't think IW is homophobic, and i don't think he should be fired. I do think what he said was completely inappropriate, especially after the excitement of winning a golden globe as a team against some pretty tough competetion. The fact that he ran out from the outside of the line, grabbed the mic, all to make an immature comment like that infront of the entire cast (including TR) was completely stupid on his part. I get he wants to move on - we all want to move on, but he obviously did something wrong back in October. He came clean, explained his actions on Oprah, and now, he comes out and says the exact word he was in trouble for saying in the first place. In context or not, a HUGE mistake.
And now theres TRs story that completely contrasts with IW's newest statement, which varies from his November Oprah interview. Its such a mess, and of course the medias making it messier. I don't blame TR for talking about it on Ellen. He was schedualed to go on before the GG anyways, and obviously it was gonna be brought up. I think he handled it well. He kept his cool, he didn't really lash out against IW, I don't think he wants anything more than a resolution, as we all do.
As Patrick said on Oprah, the argument helped them connect further as a cast - be open with each other and communicate. I hope that after this episode they can all be open with each other and set things straight for themselves and for the public. It would not be smart to just let this slide in the manner they did in the fall. There's already too much emotion and anger and confusion from the public. We need something straightforward to grasp and move on. This shows amazing. IW's a great actor, and i would not want his talent, along with anybody elses' to leave in response to this.
January 17th, 2007 11:31 PM
How refreshing to read peoples comments that are thoughtful and not filled with hatred. It is interesting that the Gay and Lesbian Alliance are calling for an apology while Ausiello is calling for Isaiah to be fired. Who is he to pass judgment? Is he even a fan of the show? If TR says Isaiah called him a faggot behind his back, how does he know it is true? If it was behind his back, doesn't that mean he wasn't present? Who is he choosing to believe? This just doesn't ring true to me. It is like the rumor mill in high school. She said this and he said that and in fact neither is quite the truth and neither is quite a lie it is just a misrepresentation of what occurred. No one should be fired. The actors in question need to address the problem and move on and the Ausiello's of the world need to find something less destructive to do for a living.
January 18th, 2007 12:00 AM
I don't think he should be fired... but something HAS to be done.. after all IW has a history of violence.. you can't keep giving people chances when they're known to be volatile... TR overheard IW calling him that, so even if it was 'behind his back', he still heard it for himself and that doesn't make it any less hurtful than if he'd been adressed to his face like that. He was forced to put his sexuality in the limelight when he may not even have been ready because of this incident.. IW isn't the victim here.
January 18th, 2007 12:40 AM
I do see Isaiah as the victim here. He is the one being condemned, not TR. One would think he was Jack the Ripper for using a term that was at one time used pretty consistently as a slang word for gay. Everyone has jumped to support and defend Knight. TR was not forced to do anything. He chose to publicly discuss his sexual preference. Isaiah didn't force him to do that. As for the history of violence, are you referring to the two people who came out of the woodwork with stories never before told or shared until the argument last October? Two people who saw an opportunity and sold their stories to the tabloids to make a buck at Isaiah's expense? Who is the victim? It is good advice to consider the source when reading something printed in a tabloid. It is not a reputable source for the truth. I'm not saying Isaiah was right in everything that he did. I am saying he is not nearly as bad as people are making him out to be.
January 18th, 2007 1:42 AM
serioulsy, this is not another publicity stunt , is it?
I know grey needs the publicity, but i hope it is not this type of publicity...although in show biz..they do seem to believe that no publicity is bad publicity
January 18th, 2007 2:39 AM
I agree with you Burke Backer on what you said it does seem like he is the victim here and I believe that he was trying to clear the air about what really happened and what was said and instead it just came out all wrong. I think he was basically tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes(if you watched E! red carpet special Ryan Seacrest made a joke about how Patrick arrived sepreatly to avoid him and was he going to hit anyone. Ryan was joking but still BAD joke)
If you watch the golden globes backstage clip he never callled t.r. the "f" word. he may have used it twice but when he first used it, it was in the fight with Patrick and he said"I am not your little "f" to Patrick(and basically the fight was about how patrick was getting more attention then the other castmates were just like how on e.r George Clooney was always getting all the attention despite the entire cast being amazing the press always acted as if he were the star of the show).
However he should apologize for using that word and after that he should find another way of clearing his name. Like doing a real sit down and saying what really happened. Or just dropping it and letting the public and media think what they want as long as the cast knows the REAL truth.
This is like a bad car accident that you know you have to look away from but you can't. And if anything my heart really does go out to him and I wish that I had paid close attention to the clip that was aired on Access Hollywood before I had made my stupid comment on the other previous page.
Let's just get back to enjoying the show instead of paying one more ounce of attention to this honest mistake.
January 18th, 2007 3:46 AM
I think this should stop sounds like kindergarten to me. Who has never said anything that they regret later and then eventually deny it! Ever heard a christian saying something unappropriate about a muslim, a muslim saying something unappropriate about a jew, a jew saying something unappropriate about a gay or lesbian, a gay or a lesbian saying something unappropriate about african person, an african person saying your country would be a better place without the "whites". etc. etc. I've heard it all in my long life the human being is far from perfect. Seems that all the fuss is just feeding the birds. I do love TR he is a great actor and his private life is none of anyones business. I do appreciate IW so let's focus on the vital issues of this planet. Learn to forgive says the bible no?
January 18th, 2007 4:45 AM
I am truly a Grey's Anatomy die hard fan. I love IW's role. However, I think that he should be disciplined in some manner for his unprofessional behavior. He is "cocky" and seems to not want to miss an opportunity to keep this mess alive. I think he said it and he would not like it if the shoe was on the other foot. As a matter of fact, he should be more sensitive to matters of this type than most. I'm sure he has had to deal with descriminating issues in his lifetime. I'm so disappointed in him!
January 18th, 2007 5:06 AM
It's old news and there were other ways for him to deal with it. It can be frustrating to make a mistake and people not letting it go. If T.R. and Isaiah have some personal issues they need to address them in private. I just don't think it should be made public because it will just keep growing and growing. Who's bussiness is it anyway besides the people directly involved. There are a lot worse things going on in the world for people to be focused on one persons bad choice of words.
January 18th, 2007 5:41 AM
I have never liked IW as I do now. He made a mistake, but when you are angry you can say things you don't want or believe in. It happens to everybody. And TR's show on Ellen was disgusting. I have gay friends and I don't like discrmination, but this is not discrimination. IW apologized once, please let him live and do his great job. He shouldn't be fired. Ga wouldn't be the same without him
January 18th, 2007 5:46 AM
I have loved ones, who are gay and I stick with IW. He is a victim now and TR's way of dealing with his homosexuality surely doesn't help this cause.He is very embarassed about it. IW should have been more careful, but human being make mistakes. He has been accused of this for months, I understand he was tired and frustrated.
January 18th, 2007 5:48 AM
Go Isaiah! I am with you! everybody makes mistakes. And next time be quiet, please. I couldn't watch grey without you.
January 18th, 2007 7:28 AM
As I read these comments, I find some of you amazingly lenient ! The word used by Isaiah Washington is a term of contempt. Period.
I agree with Ms. Heigl that he should learn to avoid speaking in public. If he had let Shonda Rhimes answer the question at the Golden Globes, the fire would not have been ignited again.
I quite liked Sarah's comment about prolonging Burke's recuperation in the show.
I also thing that T.R. Knight is a very classy man, as is P. Dempsey.
January 18th, 2007 9:12 AM
Nobody says that the word IW used is fine. He made a mistake and he apologized. It was a bad choice of word, that often happens in real life, even with the people you love. At the GG, he tried to defend himself, not to offend anybody. He should have dealt with it better. But he has been accused for months and nobody let it go. He might have been tired.
I don't find TR classy because he clearly enjoys being the victim and as greyviewer said his show on ellen was pathetic.
January 18th, 2007 9:17 AM
My brother is gay and I know what it means being discriminated. But he finds worse when TR went to parties with girls to hide his sexuality than the word IW used. The discrimination starts when you are ashamed of who you are and try to hide it. Please don't be an hero on Ellen now, to enjoy the media and the support.
IW shut up, in your interest. "Faggot" is a slur, but sometimes when it's used, it's not meant to offend or being discriminatory. He apologized. Move on.
January 18th, 2007 9:17 AM
melissa would you please tell me where you found out about the gist of the conversation because no where have i been able to come across that info. IF it happened the way you described then everyone owes IW an apology i think. Again IF that was the way it came about, that the word was merely spoken and not directed at TRK, then TRK brought all this attention on himself by being overly sensitive. However, i don't think we'll ever really have the full story. c'est la vie (such is life) they should all rise above and move on. and thanks purple for the link to the interview ;)
January 18th, 2007 9:21 AM
just want to clarify my last post by saying that my opinion of the situation was altered because of the post by melissa above. it totally put a new light on the whole story.