 |
"Isaiah has done more for the gay and lesbian community than T.R. Knight did in or out of the closet. He did what they asked him to do, and now they want to make sure he will never work again. At what point is enough enough?”
Even more evidence that T.R. only started this mess to further his own career.
If none of what Mr. Washington is saying is true, then why haven't we heard anything out of T.R. Knight? Hmmm.
Isaiah Washington: ABC Should Have Fired T.R. Knight
Former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington insists that it was actor T.R. Knight, not he, who should have been fired from the hit ABC medical dramedy.
"They fired the wrong guy," says Isaiah Washington.
Washington, 43, who was let go on June 7, has been slammed with negative publicity since October, when he uttered an anti-gay slur during an on-set disagreement with costar Patrick Dempsey.
In a telephone interview with the Houston Chronicle, Washington claims that it was Knight who propagated the idea that the slur was targeted at him and created a negative work environment.
Washington also told the Chronicle that he believes Knight, 34, likely wanted a salary increase and a more substantive role for his character.
Knight, who acknowledged that he was gay after the incident, later said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that Washington used the epithet against him. "Everyone (on the set) heard it,” he said.
"That's a lie," says Washington, a Houston native. "I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick. I apologized for that. We shook hands and went back to work."
The actor later participated in a public service announcement in which he spoke out against homophobic, racist and sexist language, The PSA ran during two back-to-back episodes of Grey’s Anatomy.
"I did everything I said I would do,” he says. “I offered to go to counseling, to do a public service announcement. I wanted everyone to know I was remorseful."
Washington told the Chronicle that he learned that ABC would not renew his contract during a tearful call from Grey’s creator Shonda Rhimes.
"That was a shock," he said. "I did everything they told me to do, including not saying anything, and then they didn't renew my contract. That's not fair."
He said he made three errors in judgment: "believing the cast of Grey's Anatomy were like family; believing I had the freedom to express myself with family and that we could resolve our issues; and trusting ABC was going to take care of me.”
After his firing, Washington released a statement saying, “I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore."
However, he now claims that his anger issues are behind him.
"I'm not angry. I'm disappointed."
Washington may take his disappointment all the way to court.
The actor, who is now at work on the set of his new movie, The Least of These, revealed that he is considering filing a lawsuit.
"I have to clear my name," he says. "My livelihood, my honor and dignity and my name have been so challenged."
