Fans were shocked when T.R. Knight made the decision to leave the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, the hit medical drama that launched him to fame in 2005.
This week, in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor reveals what led him to his decision, and he also candidly discusses the Isaiah Washington situation, coming out of the closet, and leaving his friends at Seattle Grace.
This fall, Knight was surprised to see his character George O’Malley all but vanish from the show - in fact, in the first nine episodes of Season 5, he appeared on screen a total of only 48 minutes, compared to 114 for Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang.
Still, due to what he calls a “breakdown of communication” between himself and Grey's Anatomy executive producer Shonda Rhimes, the actor chose not to ask his boss what was going on with George O’Malley. Instead, he simply asked to leave.
"My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George]," he explains. "And with respect, I'm going to leave it at that."
Though he was unknown when Grey's Anatomy premiered, Knight emerged as one of the show's breakout stars, earning a supporting actor Emmy nod in 2007. But what came to be known as "Isaiahgate" catapulted him to household-name status.
After Isaiah Washington referred to Knight as a "f----t" during an on-set argument with Patrick Dempsey, the tabloids caught wind of it, Knight came out of the closet, and Washington was ultimately not asked back to the show the following season.
While Knight doesn’t specifically fault Shonda Rhimes for how the situation was handled behind the scenes, he says she tried to discourage him from coming out:
"I think she was concerned about having my statement come out so close to the [initial] incident." Rhimes denies it: "I said, 'If you want to come out, that's awesome.'"
Knight returned to work on Season 4, but the actor struggled with the story line in which George cheated on his wife Callie (Sara Ramirez) with Izzie (Katherine Heigl).
And once George went MIA at the star of Season 5, the star came to the conclusion that his character had “expired.” But Knight is at peace with his choice to leave:
"There comes a time when it’s so clear that moving on is the best decision," he says.
But at first, his castmate and friend Katherine Heigl tried to talk him out of it: "I didn't think it was the right decision," she says. "I felt like some of the problems could be worked out. But by the time it came to fruition, I was [glad] because he was ready to go."
T.R. Knight knows he’s taking a risk walking away from his top 10 show and $14 million contract: "From an outsider's perspective, I get the [impression that] 'Oh, he’s just a spoiled actor ... he doesn’t know how good he has it,'" he says.
"There are a lot of people who would like to be in my position. But in the end, I need to be fulfilled in my work, and I am confident I made the right decision."
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100 Comments
July 23rd, 2009 12:48 PM
FINALLY!
As much as TR seems to be a good person, this bothers me A LOT!
I find this disappoiting.
TR wanted out from a long time and didn't even bother to go to SR and workds things out. That was very weak. If he wanted to stay on the show and have a more significant role, he should've talked to her. Make the KH annoying comments. He would've gotten somewhere. Or go the ABC execs. There is something that could be done but instead he chose not to.
Very disappointing.
I really hope that this works out well for him, otherwise it's going to be a huge 'I told you so'.
As for Isaiah-gate, I'd thought it was over. It is nothing new or surprising that networks execs. want to tone down on the coming out of actors (if it happens during the show's lifetime) in order to keep controversy down. Can't say how that applies to GA since they love controversy but it's the way business work. Why did this had an effect on TR? He knows how things work out. He really shouldn't be asking permission to speak his mind out (certainly his BFF doesn't).
And finally something good out of KH. Good to see that they didn't leave him without a fight.
I don't know if I should be angry or happy at him. I'm happy he's finding something that he enjoys although I'm angry about how he left without a fight.
Hope things work out for him.
July 23rd, 2009 1:12 PM
To be honest, I admire him for this. They forgot to put in the quote about how he wants to be happy with his job and couldn't care less about the amount of money he's making. Also, he makes a very valid point about not being able to trust Shonda's word. I recall many quotes from Shonda that were to promise the viewers something and the polar opposite happened.
He's not being ungrateful, and he's not bad mouthing anyone. This was the right decision, IMO. He needs to get as far away from Grey's as possible so he can go forward in his career as an actor.
I'm proud of him and look forward to hearing about his future products and hope to see him on the stage. It'd be so great to see him live and to see such a talent.
Just adding this in because I can be such a fangirl: he looks GREAT! I've never seen him look so good.
July 23rd, 2009 1:22 PM
I wish him the best of luck.
Unfortunately, to be perfectly honest, I think he'll end up just like Isaiah Washington. He leaves the show and we never hear of him again. Sorry, man.
July 23rd, 2009 2:08 PM
He said Shonda lied to him before, again and again. Why would he go to someone who lied to him? I didn't read they put up a fight. If they had, they would have promised him a story, and he would have stayed.
I'm glad to hear how badly Shonda has treated him. I always knew she was to blame, and now TR has confirmed this.
I'm glad for him having a good job is more important than making money.
I can't believe Shonda wanted him to stay in the closet. I thought I couldn't hate her more.
July 23rd, 2009 2:11 PM
Why do you think that dude? Isiah hasn't found a thing because he's a violent homophobic jerk. TR is loved and respected and talented.
There's no comparison.
I think it's very insulting you think TR doesn't have the talent to succeed without this show.
He's one amazingly talented person.
So Shonda has lied to TR in the past? No wonder he didn,t go to her. It seems the fans are not the only ones she lies to.
Good for TR.
If he fails, then it can't be worse than being stuck on a show with a boss who treats you like crap and wants you to hide who you are.
No money or success is worth the awful treatment she gave him.
I'm glad TR came out. I just knew it was Shonda's fault.
July 23rd, 2009 2:20 PM
I meant "projects" instead of "products", haha. My mind wanders too far while I'm trying to write something so people can comprehend it...sorry.
I, too, am frustrated with Shonda, but I really think people need to watch what they put in their comments so this won't turn into a war zone.
July 23rd, 2009 2:33 PM
I hope it won't turn into a war zone either, but I am on TR's side.
I hated that George vanished the whole season.
I missed him.
I just hope TR is happy now and has a lot of projects coming up.
I want him on my screen.
July 23rd, 2009 2:34 PM
For me, nothing that he said is a surprise. He was right to be angry with Shonda, after season 3 finale and departured Isaiah, George star to lost storylines. In season 4 we are expecting a relation with Izzie and Shonda vanished in a minute. After this, his character lost mean in. And finally, in season 5, he disappeared. So, we are not wrong when we said that Shonda was mad for the situation with Isiah. I very sorry for the show and all the actors but Shonda doesn´t respect not only the actors, but more, more important: THE FANS. We want consistency in the history, and from season 4 we don´t have it. She destroy a beatiful relation between Izzie and George, and she destroy George, I will never, never forgiven for this. I hate producers don´t respect the fans, and character this way, she had all season 5 for give us a dignified exit to George and she didn´t do it. She have an entire season for give a big storyline for George and make stay, and she didn´t do it. She was glad he left.
I´m a little, a little angry with Knight for not trying at least one more time fix the situation, at least for the fans, but I can´t blame him for doing. Ang I´m glad that Katherine tried to convinced him, is very sad that she not had luck.
I´m sorry for the show, because despite George was my favourite character, I love the rest of the cast, but I don´t know if I will continuing to seeing Grey´s Anatomy only for Shonda.
July 23rd, 2009 2:34 PM
Can I just say how yummy TR is here? I'm buying that magazine as soon as it comes out.
I think TR has a great future ahead. He's so talented.
July 23rd, 2009 2:39 PM
I really hope there's not a fight again.
I hope everyone can agree to disagree without fighting.
I love TR. I'll miss him so much. I already am.
I really wish he hadn't died.
I wanted George to do so much more than he has. I feel the character was robbed many times.
I'll miss him.
It's so sad to think we will never see George's funny jokes and his cute smile and that he and Izzie will never light up my screen again.