T.R. Knight Confirms Slur Was Made, Resulted in His Coming Out
T.R. Knight says that hearing Isaiah Washington call him a "faggot" on the set of Grey's Anatomy gave him the courage to come out of the closet - and that he's speechless that Washington on Monday denied using the word.
In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, which aired on her talk show today, Knight says something changed inside him when he overheard an argument in October between Washington and Grey's Anatomy co-star Patrick Dempsey during which Washington used the slur.
"It's an awesome word, isn't it?" the actor told DeGeneres sarcastically. "I've never been called that to my face. So I think when that happened, something shifted, and it became bigger than myself."
Shortly after the on-set dustup, Knight confirmed he is gay - the kind of public announcement he says isn't his style, but he felt was necessary.
"I was under no delusions," he said. "My friends on the set knew. We talked about it. Publicly, it's not my thing to call up People magazine and be like, 'Hey, you want to know something about me?' I could've just let it slide and not said anything, but it became important. It became important to make the statement."
In the Golden Globe Awards press room on Monday night, after Grey's Anatomy won Best TV Drama, Washington dubiously fielded a question from a reporter about the incident and denied using the slur, which rekindled interest in what could have remained a dead issue.
"No, I did not call T.R. a faggot," he said. "Never happened, never happened."
But Knight told another story to Ellen DeGeneres.
The talk show host said, "And then the other night at the Golden Globes, I guess Isaiah Washington is starting up the whole thing up again which is kind of crazy..."
"Yeah, he denied that he said it (faggot)," Knight said, "and I don't know what to say about it. But it's pretty bad."
Washington's denial also infuriated Grey's Anatomy cast member Katherine Heigl, who reproached her co-star during an interview Monday.
"I'm going to be really honest right now, he needs to just not speak in public. Period," she said. "I'm sorry, that did not need to be said, I'm not okay with it."
In today's interview, T.R. Knight also thanked DeGeneres for her courage in coming out as a lesbian 10 years ago.
"It just made all the difference in the world," he said.
January 17th, 2007 11:36 AM
It's so sad..i wonder...'why can't everyone just get along?'. Its true - this could have been a dead issue if IW didnt say that word again at the GG. Aggrivated or not, he could have used a better word. Calling someone who is gay the 'f' word is like calling someone who is black the 'n' word. I am a straight white female and i have to say - both of those words are just harsh - raw - and completely wrong - ESPECIALLY amongst reports. I do not see any justificaton of using either of them. So maybe IW needs to think of it that way. But i really do wish this situation would just go away.
January 17th, 2007 11:47 AM
In his own way, I think IW was trying to kill the questions about the incident, hoping by saying that no one else would ask anymore questions about it. Because I agree, enough is enought! Even KH said something about him not meaning it the way it came out. I think if people would have taken the time to calm down and think about it, it wouldn't have been such a big issue.
January 17th, 2007 12:00 PM
I really wish that Isaiah hadn't handled the GG situation the way he did. I get that he was sick of everybody asking him. I get it - i've been sick of everybody asking him. He has the right to be frustrated, but why, why did he have to leap across from the other side of the room to interrupt Shonda and use the word that he was accused of saying in the first place? Why? It was over - done! Sure, he's gonna get asked about it, but the cast reached a level of peace and understanding. I saw the interview with access hollywood after Katherine's statement, and if he had just waited to make his own peace, and handle it in that fashion, then that would've been fine. Now he pretty much welcomed it back into the press after winning an award infront of the entire cast including TR - they should've been happy but now...now TRs doing this interview and boom, its back. I really respect TR and i respected IW back when he released his apologies, but now i don't know what to believe. All i know is, i really hope this resolves itself for good soon. George is my favorite character, and Burke is intriguing aswell - i certainly wouldn't want to lose either of them over something like this. I just want the cast to be cute and happy again!!!
January 17th, 2007 12:09 PM
Now Mr. Wahington adds insult to injury, lying on top of uttering racist remarks? Way to go !!!
January 17th, 2007 12:17 PM
Isaiah Washington is nominated for an NAACP Image award - please ask for his nomination to be withdrawn:
imageawards@naacpnet.org
January 17th, 2007 12:36 PM
I am very disapointed in mr. washington for using that word. As an african-american he should know better than to use that word. Using the f word is like using the n word.
Patrick and T.R always took the high road when the question about the fight was asked. In fact T.R and Patrick sort of covered for mr. Washington by not going into great detail about the fight. But after lying in front of everyone about that word, I don't blame T.R for finally telling the truth about why he came out.
By shouting it out in the manner that he did, he ruined that special night(golden globes) not only for Shonda but for the cast as well. He just added more fuel to the fire and it will be hard for me to look at him in the same way that I had use to. I have lost respect for him. I know people make mistakes and everything but you just can't use that word. How would he like it if Patrick or T.R had shouted the N word in the same manner that he shouted the F word? All hell would break loose and Patrick or T.R would be fired on the spot.
I was hoping that this fight would never come up again but mr. washington wasn't thinking and now thanks to his actions this fight is now at the center of the show again instead of that amazing golden globe winning.
January 17th, 2007 2:06 PM
Viki,get over yourself! You don't know how it feels to be black or gay! So you have no clue if both words carry the same hurtful feelings or not! I hate hearing ignorant people, such as yourself,say dumb things...Anyway, It was an argument between two adult males. If the "sweeter" of the two's feelings got ruptured then, oh well! "Stay out of a man's face, if you don't wanna get hurt", I always say!!
Oh by the way TR Knight is a "fag" by his own admission!!!
January 17th, 2007 2:10 PM
All of you are a bunch of Sissy's. HE IS A FAG!!!!!
He is a male that has relations with other men!! In short... A FAG!!!
January 17th, 2007 2:31 PM
How did this whole thing start? What exactly prompted IW to call T.R. a faggot? In one of the magazine interviews with PD it was explained a little but I find it all to be very confusing. Could someone straighten me out? And I just want everyone to be friends again....
January 17th, 2007 2:46 PM
It doesn't matter that TR is saying thiis now, which I don't know if I believe him. Even before this interview, people believe that IW had said the slur anyways. I honestly don't feel that IW was trying to hurt him, he was defending himself. First, TR wasn't in the room and didn't hear it, now he was coming around the corner and hear it. At this point, it a matter of he said, he said. They need to work this out and move on, and focus on the show. Let TR and IW work it out. The problem is that everyone is trying to get into it: KH, media, etc. I can't believe that TR is upset because he told the reporter he didn't say it. He was trying to make it understood that he didn't say it, so that the others [reporter] would leave it at that. IW apologize to all parties involved for whatever happened. And, Cemroar it's people like you that make it hard for others. I truly believe that IW is not a racist. Let them work it out so we can continue to have our Greys. The show is what is it because of the great cast.
January 17th, 2007 3:43 PM
I agree that we all make mistakes and say things in anger or stressful situations that we don't mean..If I understand correctly from this article IW did call TR a faggot and he is now denying it to the media.
it was not the right place to say what he did at the golden globes....i got past him making the comment a long time ago and took his apolgy as heartfelt. Now i am disappointed that he denied the comment in the wrong place....
let me just add that this will not stop me from watching the show...i might not like IW comments or his personality but it has no bearing on his character in the show.
also everyone needs to learn that you can say how you feel without doing like cmeroar. making comments like that makes you no better that someone who uses the n word. and just because viki is a white female does not been she can not relate in some way.. i am a white female with a mixed child and i feel her pain even if i am not mixed like her.....you know nothing of vicki's life and your comments are really not welcome on this site. have a little tact and make comments like an adult not a two yearold.
January 17th, 2007 3:45 PM
i meant to say does not mean she can not relate in some way. sorry
January 17th, 2007 4:12 PM
from someone who claims to be in the press room:
Question: Hey, Michael, were you in the press room when Isaiah Washington hijacked the microphone and said, "I did not call T.R. Knight a f----t!" And, if so, care to give us the scoop?â€" Genie
Ausiello: 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. And 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 f----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.
T.R. Knight: Isaiah Lied at the Globes
In his first one-on-one interview since the early-October incident on the Grey's Anatomy set, and since he publicly came out, T.R. Knight reveals on Wednesday's The Ellen DeGeneres Show that cast mate Isaiah Washington was (badly) lying at Monday night's Golden Globes.
Recalling Washington's original verbal clash with Patrick Dempsey, Knight says the former "referred to me as a f----t," and loud enough for everyone to overhear. "I could've just let it slide and not said anything," Knight tells DeGeneres during the must-see sit-down, "but it became important," as word spread and the press latched on.
Three months later, Washington tried to whitewash what was said, while backstage at the Globes. "Yeah, he denied that he said it," Knight marvels. "I don't know what to say, really, about that." Well, our Mike Ausiello does, and he says it in this week's Ask Ausiello.
so if I am to understand these two articles correctly IW did deny that he said the f word and TR has officially said that IW did say it.
January 17th, 2007 4:39 PM
No, the messages in the show is that people are flawed, and when they make a mistake they try to correct the problem. I honestly feel that IW felt my telling that one reporter if would stop others from asking the same similar questions, that was his intentions. KH knew that what he was trying to do. Like he said, enough is enough.
January 17th, 2007 4:57 PM
Now their both hurt and upset. They need to find a way to work it out. You don't have to like your co-worker(s) to work with them, just be professional at work. They need to focus on the show, and end this childishness, and outsiders need to stop instigating and let them work things out. So many fans would be disappointed if anyone left.
January 17th, 2007 5:06 PM
i honestly wish we could all be blissfully ignorant about this whole situation. no matter what's been said the whole truth usually lies somewhere in between. they need to just stop answering questions about it -- don't address it ever again in any way. only then will the press stop hounding them about it.
January 17th, 2007 5:17 PM
I think i believe TR. I mean, why would you lie about this? I watched his interview on Ellen, and i felt it was a very honest, and somewhat touching conversation. He didn't walk onto the set angry and upset, infact, he cracked some jokes completely irrelevant to the fight before ellen asked, and once she did he really kept things under control. I don't think he wanted to draw attention, infact, he basically outright said it when he first came out. I don't think he would lie about something like this - nobody wants attention for this kind of story. Like Ausiello said, he handled it with class. Both October, and now, he could've thrashed out against IW if he wanted to. He could've really vocalized the hurt and anger he felt, because im sure the media wanted to hear it. Even on Ellen, other than his accusation that IW lied he really didn't say much against IW. I think he's handling this really well and maturely. That must've been a horrible moment for everybody. I can only hope that now, IW can fix this mess and take responsibility - just so that this can end once and for all. I honestly think that people would sympathize with him more if he just came forward. He might not've said it at first (even though it sounds like he did) but he can atleast apologize for the GG. I think Burke is important to the story. I think IW is a good actor, and i would hate to see the story suffer. I just hope that by the end of the season, this will be done.
January 17th, 2007 5:19 PM
I just watched the Ellen show and you all should really watch the clip. I am sure it will be on greys-media.com and youtube soon. TR was having a hard time talking about it....but he did say that he was not late and he was present when the comment was made by IW to PD. And he doesn't know why IW denied that he said it....he doesn't understand.....all I can say is you have to watch the show to understand what i am saying....i am just saying IW should not have denied saying it he did....i would respect him much more if he admitted it and said sorry....but he is a coward for not admitting it.......we all make mistakes and we should own up to them
January 17th, 2007 5:21 PM
mj- the thing is that what IW said to the reporter at the GG was not the truth per TR
January 17th, 2007 5:26 PM
I hear that last time when they said he needed to apology, which he did to the parties involved. Did the media and others let up, no they didn't. If he feels he should apologize, it should still be to the parties involved.
January 17th, 2007 5:35 PM
Like i said earlier, I totally support TR and the way hes handling this, but i also think its unfair for people to think IW is anti-gay. Like Katherine Heigl said, he might not've meant it that way. I think he just handled the situation completely inappropriately. He went about it in completely the wrong way. He might've thought it was funny or to the point, but again, just the completely wrong time, place, and way to express his side to things. I don't think he hates TR or whatever...i just think he's really diggin himself a whole, and should just come out and apologize, for the sake of the show and his supposed "family." I don't think he should be fired for his comment. If the entire cast has problems with him though, and can't continue to work with him, they might have to let him go...cause even though the character will be missed, the show must go on with a good vibe and a lot of that comes from the actors. I really respect TR for handling things this way, and hopefully this kind of control from everybody will lead to FINAL resolution.
January 17th, 2007 7:06 PM
purplemerder, At this point, I don't know who's telling the truth, I'm saying his intentions were to control the questioning once and for all about the incident. It was in the past, and IW, like most of us, was sick of hearing about it. That's what he meant by enough is enough. They've come to far to have to go through that again. I believe that's what he was thinking.
January 17th, 2007 8:05 PM
mj- I am not saying that IW didn't intend to just control the questions once and for all...i am sure that is what he meant to do....but you must admit it really blew up in his face.....I was always on IW side up until now...you can asks all the burktina fans...i have never bad mouthed him. I have always said that we all make mistakes and as long as the cast and crew is ok then it should be a mute point. I just was very upset to see that IW said it so nonchalantly and yes he might not have meant it that way...i just believe TR right now based on the fact that until the GG comment TR and PD have been on his side and haven't had to bring out the "f" word but no that IW is denying TR has had to come out himself about the situation (like on Ellen today) i don't know that anything will make this go away or make it better. TR was just really sincere today and handled it great...he didn't come out and say "IW is a liar and get upset" he just said he didn't know why IW said what he said.
January 17th, 2007 9:16 PM
Isaiah said he never called TR a faggot. That's what he has been saying from the start. By that I believe he means he did not say, "TR you are a faggot." I think that is true. Not back in October and not after the Golden Globes. He has never called TR a faggot. In both of these situations he was saying "I" as the noun, not "TR". He said, "I am not a faggot", and he said, "I did not call TR a faggot." It is an awful word. It should not be used by anyone under any circumstances. It would have been worse to use it against someone else, which he says he did not do. But still it is not appropriate to use at all.
That being said, he did not say the word nonchalantly after the GG, purplemerder. I heard him. He did not storm the microphone either as someone described it to give it as negative a connotation as possible. He did step to the mic from the corner of the group and he did try to set the record straight from his perspective. He was hurt and angry that the same E reporter that started the whole media frenzy to begin with was once again bating them and putting a pall over their win by asking about this same question. It would have been better if he said nothing at all, or if he felt compelled to defend himself, he could have said I did not address any of my castmates by using a homophobic slur. That would have been true. Even TR could not have taken offense at that. As it was, it was an inappropriate question from the reporter at that point in time and it was an inappropriate response from Isaiah.
It was also inappropriate of Katie Heigl in her rant. Is TR a man, gay or otherwise? Can he defend himself? Does Katie Heigl need to fight TRs battles for him? I did not hear the interview on Ellen today. But, it is easy to play the victim card which TR has been doing since October. It is whiney and spineless, but it is easy. It is easy to sit back and let people heap on the sympathy and support and be the one everyone defends. I have no respect for TR Knight for the way he has responded to this entire situation. I know some of you do, but he has not told the entire truth either. Both men are talking from their own perspectives and both should probably just be quiet. If KH and TRK wanted this to be a private matter handled among the cast, they probably should not have discussed it publicly either. Shonda needed to put a muzzle on all of them.
However, too much has now been shared without someone neutral, such as Shonda, telling exactly what happened. I think they need to come completely clean about this because people are interpreting things differently and believing which ever person they want to believe and it may be a matter of semantics. Both TR and Isaiah could be telling the truth from their perspective. Isaiah may have not called TR a faggot, but may have used the word faggot and TR took offense. My own opinion is TR needs to get tougher skin. You are gay. Who cares. You chose to go public. Live with it. If Isaiah never used the word to begiin with, saying he never used it was not a slur against TR it was a defense of himself. Isaiah needs to control his impulses. That was simply not the moment to discuss it with the ass from E or anyone else in the media. Isaiah, according to TR you used an inappropriate word back in October whether you called TR that word or not. As Patrick said, someone on the set sold you out to the tabloids. Unscrupulous reporters called you on it. Live with it. You lost your temper and did something even you do not want to admit to. Now in trying to dispell what you see as a lie you have compounded the problem because people don't care if you called TR that word or simply used it in the same angry argument. It was inappropriate. You've paid for it. Leave it alone.
It is up to ABC and GA whether Isaiah stays or goes. If he goes, I will go because his storyline is what made me a fan and keeps me interested. But that doesn't mean GA won't survive. It will just survive without me. I had high hopes that the ugliness was past. Now it once again threatens to ruin the good thing that is Grey's Anatomy because every character is important to the show and it may not be possible to get past Isaiah's outburst and TR's public retort. I don't know. I don't want anyone to leave the show. I don't want anyone to be fired. I want everyone to be friends and get along. The whole situation makes me sad and disappointed in everyone involved.
January 17th, 2007 9:19 PM
purplemerder, I understand what you're saying, but although he is saying he didn't understand, most people understood what IW was trying to do. If he didn't understand, why didn't he ask IW, why didn't he ask KH. Everyone knew what he was trying to do, even through it came out wrong. Like most of us, we would like to continue enjoying Greys, and as upset as I am, too, after thinking about it, I wouldn't want anyone to leave the show.