Mired in controversy, Isaiah Washington says he's moving on after being fired from Grey's Anatomy.
"In the coming months, all I'm working on right now is trying to focus on day-to-day life and what I'm doing with the foundation, what I'm doing with the family," Washington, 43, told People.
"It starts at the home."
The actor is chairman of the Gondobay Manga Foundation, which works to improve life in Sierra Leone (the foundation was inspired by Washington's discovery that he is genetically linked to that country's Mende people).
And next month he'll go to Ghana for the African Union Summit, where he and 50 other influential African-Americans will meet with 53 African presidents to discuss the continent's future.
On Friday, Washington and Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Mos Def and Herbie Hancock spoke to reporters at L.A.'s Four Seasons Hotel in support of men's fashion designer Ozwald Boateng, who is organizing the event.
The now-former Grey's Anatomy star, who has traveled to Africa multiple times for charity work, explained his passion for the continent.
"Once you get awareness of who you are and how you're here, then I believe there's a responsibility that you have," he said. "And seeing that I can afford to take part in that, I have to be responsible."
Washington was fired from ABC's hit medical series after a gay slur he made in reference to co-star T.R. Knight. Asked if there were any misconceptions about him, he said:
"I don't know. Maybe for 50 years and the history of media and television, I represent something that's supposed to not exist. This happened to Malcolm X, to Paul Robeson. A misconception can happen to any man of power that loves himself and wants to spread that love and that humanity throughout the world."
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32 Comments
June 18th, 2007 3:04 PM
God has a lot of good things instore for Isaiah. I'm so proud of this beautiful black man. I'm proud of you, baby! (smile)
June 18th, 2007 3:06 PM
YOU GO BOY!
June 18th, 2007 3:09 PM
YOU GO BOY! (with your fine self)
June 18th, 2007 3:41 PM
Now we know where he draws out the humanity he has imbued the character of Dr. Burke with. It is more than talent, it is the very center of the man. I'm glad that, being what he is, he is aware of being misunderstood, misquoted and misinterpreted. That means, the rocks thrown at him will not deter him from pursuing his bigger vision for his race, for his cause.
June 18th, 2007 3:52 PM
AMEN!
June 18th, 2007 5:47 PM
I am proud of the way he is handling himself in the wake of this travesty. You are so right, Bayfront, he is meant for bigger things and I have faith that he will achieve them. I just wish I wouldn't miss his alter ego Preston Burke so much on Greys Anatomy. It will be even worse this fall. It is even hard to watch season one and two when thei Burke and Cristina relationship was brand new and so hopeful because I know the horrible way it ends. It is like a great book with an awful ending that you have invested 500 pages in only to discover in the end you have been duped by the author. Maybe after the loss of this character isn't quite so painful I will enjoy the first two seasons again.
June 18th, 2007 7:12 PM
I wish him well.
You know the old saying - when one door closes, another one opens....
June 18th, 2007 7:35 PM
He's a bigger man than people give him credit for. Grey's Anatomy was a big part of his life and he will be missed. But it goes to show that his mistake was not the sum total of who he is. God will bless him because there no one greater who can.
June 18th, 2007 7:52 PM
"A misconception can happen to any man of power that loves himself and wants to spread that love and that humanity throughout the world."
And he planned on spreading that love and humanity throughout the world by calling someone a faggot, and then denying it on national television? I think he needs a new plan.
June 18th, 2007 8:57 PM
He's still a wonderful man. Regardless of what people say about him. He has apologized over and over and God has forgiven him. If God has forgiven him, who are we to judge. I still have great respect for him. He's given so much of himself to his fans, his family and to humanity. And God sees that! And because of that, God is going to open up the windows of Heaven and pour him out a blessing that he won't have room enough to receive. And he's going on anyhow, enjoying the fruits of his labor while the little people that don't have anything else better to do but hold grudges and whine about the past, sit on the sidelines and watch. ABC may not have his back, Shonda Rhimes may not have his back, his own former castmates may not have had his back, but his fans do! And so does God. That's alright. Kick him while he's down. God says He will make your enemies your footstool. He says He will make you the head and not the tail. And Isaiah is bouncing back as we speak. All I have left to say is, "What goes around,comes around.