1) He REFERRED to TR Knight as a faggot; he did not CALL him one to his face. TR Knight has no right to make a hooha out of it unless he steps up to confront Washington and set things straight. From what we know, TR Knight never did and instead went through the back door playing the hurt victim.
2) Right after the event happened, all who were interviewed said it was over in a flash; people apologized and they got on with work. The one who didn't get over it seems to be TR Knight alone. And the media.
Although I was taken aback at Washington's reaction during the Golden Globes, thinking that it was totally uncalled for, I think we're forgetting that the media has been giving him a hard time over the few months. Imagine a reference to your colleague in the office being blown up so much so that *everyone* starts asking you about it. Go through this public scrutiny for a few months and tell me you won't lose it and say NO I DIDN'T CALL HIM THAT, ENOUGH ALREADY!
And while I felt for TR Knight in the beginning, I don't anymore. His self-righteous and victimized behavior has gone on long enough over a term that high school kids throw at each other every single day. Like I said before, congratulations TR Knight and Heigl - you've driven away the colleague you couldn't get along with. Along with Washington's fans. And fans of Burke and Cristina. You popping the champagne yet?
vicky Says:
June 11th, 2007 9:44 PM
It's unfortune that the Disney Corp is the parent company of ABC. They support the gay rights movement, as well as financial support. So I believe that they probably stong armed Shonda into making that decision. It doesn't make sense for the producers to fire him for somthing so silly and unimportant. So it has to be Disney. It wasn't a racial slur,religious , handicapped or anything like that. They ended that man's career for gay rights. They chose immorality as justice. I liked TR and Heigl, but not enough to continue watching the show. They wouldn't be able to hold my attention long enough without Burke there to balance their mediocore scenes.
Belgian Grey Says:
June 12th, 2007 1:41 AM
Burke Backer like usual you expressed what I feel.
Who is really behind all this? It has been going on since October they never let go. Someone must really hate IW for acting like that. The media played a very bad role here they should have stopped right away. What pleasure can one have in trying to break someone's career that I will never understand.
Can KH and TRK still look at themselves in the mirror? Sure that somehow they will pay back for this one day. KH is mentionned in 61 headlines on this site EP only 41 that says enough about the woman.
Showbizz should be managed by competent people and their sexual orientation should not influence their decisions which obviously is not the case here. That's how you create hate towards a community. How can we obtain peace on earth when for simple things some people make a mountain from it. Just wished they had put their energy in something more positive.
To JB:
a homophobic or what. I am not gay but i take offense to your idiot remarks. For someone on the number 1 show on television to call another human being a faggot, is not only irresponsible but racist. Grey's did the right thing getting rid of him. I for one will continue to watch greys and will not miss Burke. It's time for the show to go back and feature more of patient stories like they did in season 1 and 2. Sometimes you have to put your brain in gear before engaging your mouth, which is what IW should have done. Think before you speak people.
Dottir Says:
June 12th, 2007 11:41 AM
To Burke supporters,
Stop trying to defend the undefendable. What Mr. Washington did and said was wrong and now he's paying the price.
You're siding with an attacker and disrespecting the victim of his attacks. That's a no-no in my book!
Kat Says:
June 12th, 2007 2:20 PM
To T.R. Knight Supporters,
"Mr. Washington" did something so little as to call someone a name, and apologizied and did everything in his power to try and get everything normal again and did what was expected of him in order to get his career back. You're sliding with an attacker who went to the press and talk shows and repeated what was said (TRK). That's a no-no in my book.
Dottir Says:
June 12th, 2007 3:24 PM
However cute that was, Mr. Washington is still gone!
Kate Says:
June 12th, 2007 8:42 PM
I agree with various commentors that have said this: The whole situation has been handled very, very poorly since its eruption. It's too bad, because it's likely that things wouldn't have to be as bad as they are if better actions were taken right at the start.
I think that Grey's Anatomy/ABC/Shonda/whoever has been taking a lot of big risks lately. Unless they've already got some grand masterminded plan, a lot of damage has been done and it might not be able to be reversed. A main character, Addison/Kate Walsh (and god I hope a whole "main vs. insignificant character thing doesn't erupt there - I'm sick of seeing those, sorry) will not be returning to Grey's, which makes a lot of people unhappy. With the spinoff, no matter how optimistic people are about it, unfortunately spinoffs have an extensive history of failure. I would love to see Private Practice do well, but I'm guessing that it's not likely that it won't have any kind of stellar success, and I'm guessing it won't be terribly long-lived either. Back at Grey's Anatomy, there is the controversial triangle of George, Izzie, and Callie; Cristina seems like she's lost herself along with Burke, so she's just kind of floating out there in space right now; George's future is uncertain and seemingly with not much place to go since he failed the exam; Bailey didn't get Chief Resident, so we'll probably see her confidence take a nosedive (similar to her "mommy situation"); Alex also seems to be kind of floating out there because it seems his 2 potential love interests are both gone; the introduction of Lexie Grey seems to have met a mostly negative response/ and, of course, Meredith and Derek look as if they may be no more. Now Dr. Burke is gone, leaving a slew of questions such as: Who will replace him? What will happen to Cristina? No matter how much one may dislike him, a character cannot simply disappear, and you certainly can't just stick another guy in there and call him Preston Burke. I guess I'm somewhat on the fence for this one: Burke was no major favorite of mine, but I certainly didn't dislike him - the character and acting were great, and I think his absence will be noticed. It was a bad situation for Isaiah as a person, and he's probably getting what was coming to him. Though I agree that it does seem a little sad that all the things he tried to do to apologize turned out to be for nothing. I suppose one would have to know all the true details before being able to really state a rational opinion about it all.
As a true Grey's Anatomy fan, it saddens me to see such ugly controversy surround the people that make Grey's happen, especially after the first 2 seasons were so great. I liked Season 3 as well, but I can see why many people are saying that Grey's is headed downhill. I will be tuning in to Season 4 to see if they can manage to pick up the mess, but if things don't improve... (never thought I'd have to say it, but) I'm out.
Kate Says:
June 12th, 2007 8:43 PM
Um...that was longer than I meant it to be. Sorry...
Kat Says:
June 12th, 2007 9:58 PM
I totally am on the same boat as you though Kate no matter how long that was haha. I agree with everything that you wrote... and the fact that I agree with you when you say Grey's is going downhill makes me a bit sad, I love Grey's but like you said "I'm out" also if it keeps going downhill.
jag Says:
June 14th, 2007 5:03 AM
I found George and Izzie so annoying....... Burke was one of the reasons I watch the show...... Even if they replace him with another actor.... I don't think I'll be watching the new season..... It's going to end up being a whiney show, with George, Izzie and Merideth doing nothing but whining. Hopefully Bailey and Yang can successfully carry the show, as they are the only characters that don't whine!!!
Airene Burke Says:
June 18th, 2007 1:59 AM
Burke Backer...
I don't know you...but I love your comments and endless supports toward Preston Burke/Isaiah Washington...Thank You...
Isaiah/Burke will always and forever have my support!
All the best!!!
KAREN Says:
June 21st, 2007 11:40 AM
IW MADE THIS SHOW " I WILL NOT BE WATCHING GA NEXT SEASON !!! THIS WAS MY FAVORITE SHOW MY FRIENDS & FAMILY LOVED THIS SHOW TOO , WE COULDN'T WAIT FOR THURSDAY NIGHTS WE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME . ALL DISIRE TO WATCH THIS SHOW IS GONE . THANKS ABC , AND SHONDA WAY TO GO !!!!!!!! HOW DO YOU GET RID OF BURKE ???
Deborah Says:
June 23rd, 2007 9:52 AM
Well, I made this comment elsewhere and I will repeat it here; I wish to humbly thank all of those people that have forgiven me with endless grace and patience when I didn't deserve it. So, I will certainly not be hurling any brickbats at Mr. Washington. He made mistakes and tried to make amendments. What can he do if he has apologised umpteen times, done what has been requested of him and is still found to be wanting?
I can recall toward the beginning of the year Sharon Stone being quoted as saying that she found the whole furore ridiculous because she frequently called her gay friends the same word that has turned Mr. Washington's world upside down. Strangely enough, I saw no backlash or censorious opinions head the lady's way because of it...
It's been heartening to see the degree of support for Mr. Washington's portrayal of the sizzling Dr. Burke (oh, what a man, what a man, what a man!!!) in many of the comments, here. Others have also shown true generosity of spirit and an "all-too-familiar" recognition of human fallibility and frailty.
As an English viewer who will not bother to watch Grey's Anatomy again, I wish that I'd really taken the time to appreciate the fine acting fare that Mr. Washington placed in front of me in the role of Dr. Burke. It was both a privilege and a pleasure to see the man at work. Who is going to be able to recreate with Cristina the kind of chemistry that she had with the fine Dr.? I just want to say thank you to Sandra Oh and Isaiah Washington for forming one of the most memorable and charismatic screen couples that I have ever seen on either the small or big screen.
What can I say about the tedious "Heigl & Knight Show"? For me, if you like vaguely talented and mildly entertaining then they are just fine. I wonder how they are going to cope with all eyes on them in the upcoming season. They might find that bright spotlight to be a little crueller and more unforgiving than they could ever have imagined....
Also, without the wonderful Kate Walsh, another major incentive to watch the show, disappeared.
Ah, well. I look forward (eagerly!) to viewing Mr. Washington's next acting project and would like to wish Ms. Walsh the very best in her next endeavour.
June 11th, 2007 8:31 PM
I *SO* agree with Burke Backer.
1) He REFERRED to TR Knight as a faggot; he did not CALL him one to his face. TR Knight has no right to make a hooha out of it unless he steps up to confront Washington and set things straight. From what we know, TR Knight never did and instead went through the back door playing the hurt victim.
2) Right after the event happened, all who were interviewed said it was over in a flash; people apologized and they got on with work. The one who didn't get over it seems to be TR Knight alone. And the media.
Although I was taken aback at Washington's reaction during the Golden Globes, thinking that it was totally uncalled for, I think we're forgetting that the media has been giving him a hard time over the few months. Imagine a reference to your colleague in the office being blown up so much so that *everyone* starts asking you about it. Go through this public scrutiny for a few months and tell me you won't lose it and say NO I DIDN'T CALL HIM THAT, ENOUGH ALREADY!
And while I felt for TR Knight in the beginning, I don't anymore. His self-righteous and victimized behavior has gone on long enough over a term that high school kids throw at each other every single day. Like I said before, congratulations TR Knight and Heigl - you've driven away the colleague you couldn't get along with. Along with Washington's fans. And fans of Burke and Cristina. You popping the champagne yet?
June 11th, 2007 9:44 PM
It's unfortune that the Disney Corp is the parent company of ABC. They support the gay rights movement, as well as financial support. So I believe that they probably stong armed Shonda into making that decision. It doesn't make sense for the producers to fire him for somthing so silly and unimportant. So it has to be Disney. It wasn't a racial slur,religious , handicapped or anything like that. They ended that man's career for gay rights. They chose immorality as justice. I liked TR and Heigl, but not enough to continue watching the show. They wouldn't be able to hold my attention long enough without Burke there to balance their mediocore scenes.
June 12th, 2007 1:41 AM
Burke Backer like usual you expressed what I feel.
Who is really behind all this? It has been going on since October they never let go. Someone must really hate IW for acting like that. The media played a very bad role here they should have stopped right away. What pleasure can one have in trying to break someone's career that I will never understand.
Can KH and TRK still look at themselves in the mirror? Sure that somehow they will pay back for this one day. KH is mentionned in 61 headlines on this site EP only 41 that says enough about the woman.
Showbizz should be managed by competent people and their sexual orientation should not influence their decisions which obviously is not the case here. That's how you create hate towards a community. How can we obtain peace on earth when for simple things some people make a mountain from it. Just wished they had put their energy in something more positive.
June 12th, 2007 5:41 AM
http://www.petitiononline.com/a47wash/petition.html
June 12th, 2007 10:17 AM
For your info there is already a petiton for IW.
June 12th, 2007 10:54 AM
To JB:
a homophobic or what. I am not gay but i take offense to your idiot remarks. For someone on the number 1 show on television to call another human being a faggot, is not only irresponsible but racist. Grey's did the right thing getting rid of him. I for one will continue to watch greys and will not miss Burke. It's time for the show to go back and feature more of patient stories like they did in season 1 and 2. Sometimes you have to put your brain in gear before engaging your mouth, which is what IW should have done. Think before you speak people.
June 12th, 2007 11:41 AM
To Burke supporters,
Stop trying to defend the undefendable. What Mr. Washington did and said was wrong and now he's paying the price.
You're siding with an attacker and disrespecting the victim of his attacks. That's a no-no in my book!
June 12th, 2007 2:20 PM
To T.R. Knight Supporters,
"Mr. Washington" did something so little as to call someone a name, and apologizied and did everything in his power to try and get everything normal again and did what was expected of him in order to get his career back. You're sliding with an attacker who went to the press and talk shows and repeated what was said (TRK). That's a no-no in my book.
June 12th, 2007 3:24 PM
However cute that was, Mr. Washington is still gone!
June 12th, 2007 8:42 PM
I agree with various commentors that have said this: The whole situation has been handled very, very poorly since its eruption. It's too bad, because it's likely that things wouldn't have to be as bad as they are if better actions were taken right at the start.
I think that Grey's Anatomy/ABC/Shonda/whoever has been taking a lot of big risks lately. Unless they've already got some grand masterminded plan, a lot of damage has been done and it might not be able to be reversed. A main character, Addison/Kate Walsh (and god I hope a whole "main vs. insignificant character thing doesn't erupt there - I'm sick of seeing those, sorry) will not be returning to Grey's, which makes a lot of people unhappy. With the spinoff, no matter how optimistic people are about it, unfortunately spinoffs have an extensive history of failure. I would love to see Private Practice do well, but I'm guessing that it's not likely that it won't have any kind of stellar success, and I'm guessing it won't be terribly long-lived either. Back at Grey's Anatomy, there is the controversial triangle of George, Izzie, and Callie; Cristina seems like she's lost herself along with Burke, so she's just kind of floating out there in space right now; George's future is uncertain and seemingly with not much place to go since he failed the exam; Bailey didn't get Chief Resident, so we'll probably see her confidence take a nosedive (similar to her "mommy situation"); Alex also seems to be kind of floating out there because it seems his 2 potential love interests are both gone; the introduction of Lexie Grey seems to have met a mostly negative response/ and, of course, Meredith and Derek look as if they may be no more. Now Dr. Burke is gone, leaving a slew of questions such as: Who will replace him? What will happen to Cristina? No matter how much one may dislike him, a character cannot simply disappear, and you certainly can't just stick another guy in there and call him Preston Burke. I guess I'm somewhat on the fence for this one: Burke was no major favorite of mine, but I certainly didn't dislike him - the character and acting were great, and I think his absence will be noticed. It was a bad situation for Isaiah as a person, and he's probably getting what was coming to him. Though I agree that it does seem a little sad that all the things he tried to do to apologize turned out to be for nothing. I suppose one would have to know all the true details before being able to really state a rational opinion about it all.
As a true Grey's Anatomy fan, it saddens me to see such ugly controversy surround the people that make Grey's happen, especially after the first 2 seasons were so great. I liked Season 3 as well, but I can see why many people are saying that Grey's is headed downhill. I will be tuning in to Season 4 to see if they can manage to pick up the mess, but if things don't improve... (never thought I'd have to say it, but) I'm out.
June 12th, 2007 8:43 PM
Um...that was longer than I meant it to be. Sorry...
June 12th, 2007 9:58 PM
I totally am on the same boat as you though Kate no matter how long that was haha. I agree with everything that you wrote... and the fact that I agree with you when you say Grey's is going downhill makes me a bit sad, I love Grey's but like you said "I'm out" also if it keeps going downhill.
June 14th, 2007 5:03 AM
I found George and Izzie so annoying....... Burke was one of the reasons I watch the show...... Even if they replace him with another actor.... I don't think I'll be watching the new season..... It's going to end up being a whiney show, with George, Izzie and Merideth doing nothing but whining. Hopefully Bailey and Yang can successfully carry the show, as they are the only characters that don't whine!!!
June 18th, 2007 1:59 AM
Burke Backer...
I don't know you...but I love your comments and endless supports toward Preston Burke/Isaiah Washington...Thank You...
Isaiah/Burke will always and forever have my support!
All the best!!!
June 21st, 2007 11:40 AM
IW MADE THIS SHOW " I WILL NOT BE WATCHING GA NEXT SEASON !!! THIS WAS MY FAVORITE SHOW MY FRIENDS & FAMILY LOVED THIS SHOW TOO , WE COULDN'T WAIT FOR THURSDAY NIGHTS WE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME . ALL DISIRE TO WATCH THIS SHOW IS GONE . THANKS ABC , AND SHONDA WAY TO GO !!!!!!!! HOW DO YOU GET RID OF BURKE ???
June 23rd, 2007 9:52 AM
Well, I made this comment elsewhere and I will repeat it here; I wish to humbly thank all of those people that have forgiven me with endless grace and patience when I didn't deserve it. So, I will certainly not be hurling any brickbats at Mr. Washington. He made mistakes and tried to make amendments. What can he do if he has apologised umpteen times, done what has been requested of him and is still found to be wanting?
I can recall toward the beginning of the year Sharon Stone being quoted as saying that she found the whole furore ridiculous because she frequently called her gay friends the same word that has turned Mr. Washington's world upside down. Strangely enough, I saw no backlash or censorious opinions head the lady's way because of it...
It's been heartening to see the degree of support for Mr. Washington's portrayal of the sizzling Dr. Burke (oh, what a man, what a man, what a man!!!) in many of the comments, here. Others have also shown true generosity of spirit and an "all-too-familiar" recognition of human fallibility and frailty.
As an English viewer who will not bother to watch Grey's Anatomy again, I wish that I'd really taken the time to appreciate the fine acting fare that Mr. Washington placed in front of me in the role of Dr. Burke. It was both a privilege and a pleasure to see the man at work. Who is going to be able to recreate with Cristina the kind of chemistry that she had with the fine Dr.? I just want to say thank you to Sandra Oh and Isaiah Washington for forming one of the most memorable and charismatic screen couples that I have ever seen on either the small or big screen.
What can I say about the tedious "Heigl & Knight Show"? For me, if you like vaguely talented and mildly entertaining then they are just fine. I wonder how they are going to cope with all eyes on them in the upcoming season. They might find that bright spotlight to be a little crueller and more unforgiving than they could ever have imagined....
Also, without the wonderful Kate Walsh, another major incentive to watch the show, disappeared.
Ah, well. I look forward (eagerly!) to viewing Mr. Washington's next acting project and would like to wish Ms. Walsh the very best in her next endeavour.
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July 14th, 2009 12:29 AM
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