Isaiah Washington Will Not Be Returning to Grey's Anatomy
The speculation is over: After a controversial season, Isaiah Washington will not be returning to Grey's Anatomy, his rep and ABC Television Studio have confirmed.
Howard Bragman, Washington's publicist, says Washington's option was not renewed, and released this statement from the actor: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more."
The quote is a reference to the 1976 film Network, but we doubt the actor was joking around. We also can't imagine what he means, however.
The cast was notified Thursday night of the final decision, which, says a source close to the situation, was a long time coming. In the end, the source says, Washington's behavior made him a liability.
As Grey's Anatomy followers know, rumors ran rampant following the season finale â" during which Washington's character, Dr. Preston Burke, broke up with his fiancée, Christina Yang (Sandra Oh), and moved out of their apartment â" that Washington would not be returning.
The actor first came under fire last fall after getting into an altercation with Patrick Dempsey, during which he allegedly referred to castmate T.R. Knight with a homophobic slur.
Washington later apologized, checked into rehab, met with gay leaders and recently released a PSA decrying the use of hate speech.
What do you think of the decision to let Washington walk? Visit our forums now and let us know.
June 8th, 2007 6:40 AM
I think anyone who tries to choke a fellow employee should be fired. I know I would be in my job - immediately. I feel very sorry for IW in that this could ruin his career, but no one, absolutely no one, should still have his job after what he did.
June 8th, 2007 6:42 AM
RIDICULOUS
June 8th, 2007 6:45 AM
There is no Greys without him. THAT THE HELL IS HE THINKING?????
The team NEED him, he's freaking BURKE!!!!!
June 8th, 2007 6:45 AM
Yes his comment was uncalled for, but he is an integral part of the show. I don't know if I'm going to even watch the show next year. First they got rid of Addison and now Dr. Burke. This is absolutely rediculous!
June 8th, 2007 6:48 AM
I am a big fan of Grey's Anatomy and, every character that I have seen so far. They all bring their own spark to the show. I feel that letting Mr. Washington go at this point is a terrible mistake.Everyone has said or done something in their lifetime that they wish that they could erase. I loved his character and, I will miss him that is if I continue to watch.
June 8th, 2007 6:49 AM
The fact that he used the "F" word TWICE, and once during a LIVE televised event shows to me he doesnt care whose lives he affects. If it was TR, or PD, or any of the others who called him the "N" word, they would have been fired ON THE SPOT with no time to make amends. IW was lucky he was permitted to stay as long as he was. I for one will REALLY miss "Burke", but I will not miss IW.
June 8th, 2007 7:03 AM
I feel sorry for IW, but choking PD was a huge mistake on IW's side no matter who was at fault. True GA will not be the same without him, however, no outsider knows the real story of what exactly has been going on for the past 7 months and why the management have to make this huge decision of letting him go even though they know its going to have an impact on the show. Therefore, the way i see it, its much more than that..... I also think one way or the other Shonda and team can make it work without IW (since he is not coming back anyway).
June 8th, 2007 7:12 AM
As a Grey's fan, I am heartbroken that Dr. Burke won't be back. I love his character, and I think the show is really going to struggle some without his presence. That being said, I think that letting Isaiah Washington go was necessary, however difficult. He made the Grey's Anatomy set a hostile and rather uncomfortable place to work, at the very least for one person, but more like several, considering the press about it. It was good on a personal level that Isaiah tried to deal with it, and that he definitely learned from this experience, but the damage was already done on a professional standpoint. My opinion is that he was let go because of the reaction and the environmental tension that his behavior caused on a professional level were too much to repair.
June 8th, 2007 7:24 AM
I am not going to be watching the show without Addison or Burke either. This news is definately the breaking point. It's a shame, Thursdays used to be what I looked forward to. The whole show is going down the tube, the network really needed to keep all the characters that we were so strongly invested in to keep the show #1. He said something he shouldn't have? Who cares, we aren't firing people in politics for saying ignorant statements. This is so ridiculous!
June 8th, 2007 7:28 AM
wow....I have to say I'm really surprised.
Personally, I really think the whole thing was mishandled from the start. ABC & Shonda should have dealt with it when it happened in private. To me, the biggest part of the problem was that it drug on so long and there was so much peripheral fallout...the additional comment by IW at the awards show, and then allllll the unnecessary comments following.
Whether or not his comments were a firing offense is not for me to say....but remember, times are different - Don Imus recently got fired for a similarly derogatory comment.
I do hate to think about the show without him. He is a very talented actor, and created the character of Preston Burke.
All we know is what's been in the media - but as SSuzanne said - if I choked a co-worker, or even scuffled with them - I don't think I'd still have my job. And people are a lot more sensitive about how language is used. Not saying it's right or wrong, just that it's the environment we are in now.
Again - just my personal opinion - but if he was going to be fired, I think it should have happened at the time of the incident. I think ABC / Shonda is using the "IW is a liability" as a smokescreen for the bad writing that had drug down the show for the last half of the season.
June 8th, 2007 7:41 AM
nooooooooooooooooooo! this cant be trueeeee!
June 8th, 2007 7:43 AM
I really think that anyone saying "I'm not going to watch the show now" is a bit of an idiot. Would you get to keep your job if you got angry and choked someone? I think not.
I think anyone that is a true fan of the show would at least give it a chance in the new season despite the cast change. There have been people on this site that wanted them to get rid of Meredith, the character the show is NAMED AFTER, but think that losing Burke will destroy the entire show. I think not.
Burke's plot with Cristina is obviously over, and that was his only real tie to any of the large plot elements, so where would he fit in now? What part of the plot is going to be destroyed by his departure? Oh that's right, none of them.
June 8th, 2007 7:47 AM
Better late than never. Seriously, think of the set as the place of business it is. If any of you had harrassed a coworker as he had, you'd have been escorted out that same day.
June 8th, 2007 7:48 AM
I really don't see the rational for firing or not renewing IW's contract. I think so much was made of what he say because of the timing of other negative events that took place at this time. IW did at least apologize and voluntarily get counseling for the remarks. For the person that stated if he had said the "N" word you know waht I'm referring to. Making a statement defaming a person race is in no way the same as calling someone "fat" "skinny" "ugly" or "gay". This is just another excuse to say well you did it and so can I. This show was good with all the characters and will definitely lose steam with two reaaly good people gone starting next season I will have to find a new favorite medical show.
June 8th, 2007 7:56 AM
That move right there is a death knell for the show. I think it was a cocky move, firing him like that. Yes, he said some really inappropriate and insensitive stuff...nearly everyone has! He just happened to say it more than once.
On the flip side, IW was getting a little cocky. Big for his breeches. Humble pie was in order, but firing him seems a little extreme. And we were so looking forward to him and Xtina reconciling...awwwwwwwwwwww!
June 8th, 2007 8:08 AM
I am surprised that Dr. Burke is not going to be back... he was a leading character on the show and not bad on the eyes either. The chemistry between Christina and Dr. Burke was great fun to watch - because they both are such strong and confident characters. I mean really - does anyone still care about McSteamy and Meredith anymore? McSteamy needs to move on to something better, and the Meredith character really needs to get it together - she has become very uninteresting to watch. Does anyone really care if she does not take the medical exam anymore? She is just getting too boring. Sorry Ellen... feel bad for you that your character has gone in such a direction. It seems that all the strong characters are leaving the show. Everyone makes mistakes - could not IW be forgiven - I mean people make mistakes - it does seem he took some measures to correct his mistakes. I am sorry - but the show is not going to be as strong without him and honestly it is not as good as it was in the beginning anyway. I and alot of friends use to be home to watch Greys Anatomy and it was talked about at work the following day. Not anymore ... I got a feeling this show is on its way out, and what a shame as good as it was at one time. Who knows ... maybe Dr. Burke can visit Addison on her new show!
June 8th, 2007 8:12 AM
I think they should put Blair Underwood in the role of Burke! Then we could still enjoy the character.
June 8th, 2007 8:12 AM
I am glad no one is rejoicing at IW's departure because it sucks! The essence of the show is that all the characters are important and have their own quirks. Without him something will be lacking. He is arrogant - on the show and obviously in real life but so what? Controversy makes the world go round and people have done much worse. Bring him back I say! We need him to see him react to having Christina around after that fiasco - Seriously!
June 8th, 2007 8:24 AM
I think IW could have been forgiven after the first incident, but he sorta dug his grave at the awards show after denying that it had all happened.
Maybe they'll bring Collin Marlow back..they need a cardiothorastic sergeon! Or maybe Christina will start the path of replacing him or something.
Well, it's all very interesting, that's for sure!
June 8th, 2007 8:39 AM
This is BS. The black know the N word, the gays know the F word. Grow up,we all have slang ! Are they ashamed of being gay or black ? Let's get this show all back together. Katherine was a no-body til Grey's as was George, and a few others. She needs to Thanks Washington and Oh, they were the reason I started watching. Just their name alone drew my interest. They were already some body ! Her parts are never any good anyway. She just wants someone to feel sorry for her, so boot her !
June 8th, 2007 8:39 AM
This is crazy, really is! I think he was a very important force in the show that couldn't be taken away. I will never even think of watching this show ever again!
How can you fire a man after the last show, this is crazy!
June 8th, 2007 8:49 AM
o god please let this be a joke cristina needs him
June 8th, 2007 9:00 AM
Shonda,
Please bring back Isaiah. I can't watch Grey's without the one actor involved in a relationship with substance. Christina and Burke were actually having a mature and loving relationship. They had Ups and downs but handled honestly and lovingly. A testament that we all go through it. The storylines he was involed with were wonderful adn I love seeing AF-AM thoracic surgeons on TV!! Wait, he's the only one. Get it? There's no show with out him. Isaiah had transcended all boundaries starring in a television show that's so well done. Now the show is done with him? It was the wrong decision. However, TV land is fickle and maybe he'll be back. I can only hope and pray. As a writer myself I'm working on my own pilot so I can now put him in my show! Seriously, bring him back Shonda. Think it over and remember what he good things he brought to the show. I absolutely love Dr. Burke and the absolute main reason watched the pilot. Then I saw all off the other great characters and how they were developed and fell in love with the show. The writing is amazing and Grey's is the hottest show on TV. Oh, and he's gorgeous.
June 8th, 2007 9:07 AM
I am sorry, but in today's world the studio had to fire him and set a precedent that they will not tolerate that behavior. If I made a racial slur, almost chocked someone, and went around denying that it happen, I would be fired.
Why do all of you that are so Grey's Anatomy Obsessed and cannot separate the two worlds between TV and life see this? Dr. Burke's character will be missed, as will Addison's, but Dr. Burke had issues and left Christina to figure them out. Dr. Burke grew up that year with Christina, but is not sure what he wants out of life. IW put his job of ACTING AS DR. BURKE on the line, when he acted in a way that was ridiculous.
Just because he is a celebrity does not mean that his actions do not have consequences. I applaud the studio and Shonda for personally calling him to let him know. It is hard to fire someone, who does a great job at his job of acting as the character Dr. Burke, but he crossed the line.
Everyone, even celebrities, should be held accountable for their actions and not be able to use Rehab as an excuse for their behavior.
June 8th, 2007 9:14 AM
I was really shocked when I read that he got fired. I think that the last season wasn't good all the way around. I can see the show on it's way out now. He was a main character along with Addison and with them gone it's not the same. The show hasn't been around long enough to make major changes like this. ER has done it but they were around a lot longer. It is a shame though because it was one of the best shows on TV.