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Exclusive! Grey's Fires Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington by Ron Tom/ABC
Yeah, you read that headline correctly.
Multiple sources are telling me that Isaiah Washington will not be returning to Grey's Anatomy next season. An ABC Studios spokesperson confirms that the actor's contract option has not been picked up, but declined further comment.
One insider, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, speculated that the decision was likely due only in part to the T.R. Knight homophobic-slur scandal and the subsequent fallout. "There was a pattern of problematic behavior going back before he used the F-word," says my spy. "I imagine [his dismissal] was the result of all of that."
Washington's rep, Howard Bragman, confirmed the news, adding that his client was informed by Grey's executive producer Shonda Rhimes earlier today that he was not being invited back to the show. In a statement, Washington, referencing the iconic line from Network, said, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." (He's kidding.... I think.)
Plot-wise, it won't be difficult to explain Washington's absence. In last month's season finale, Burke left Cristina at the altar and moved out of their apartment.
Personally, I think ABC did the right thing. As much as I'll miss Burke, Washington's behavior was inexcusable and it was tearing apart the show. But enough about me and my opinion, what do you think of ABC's decision to fire Isaiah? Sound off below....
POLL: Do you think ABC was right to fire Isaiah? Vote here.
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Jun 7, 2007 9:51 PM
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I'd definitely like to know the true reason why....
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Jun 7, 2007 9:56 PM
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That's huge! And not exactly the world's saddest news bulletin. Thanks for the scoop, Mike.
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Jun 7, 2007 9:56 PM
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Well that came out of nowhere.
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Jun 7, 2007 9:58 PM
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"out of nowhere"....
where have you been living? this has long been rumored. And good for the Grey's team, he was a pariah on the show's reputation, and a homophobe to boot. Good riddance!
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Jun 7, 2007 10:12 PM
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I hope this isn't true. Celebrities get to make mistakes and go to rehab and are forgiven. Some murder! and get off. So Isaiah made a "homophobic" comment. He apologised, why should you feel they are right to fire him because of that? It's someone's career we are talking about, and he could end up not getting any roles because of this. I think this is wrong and I disagree strongly with the comments above, especially the person who asked "Where've you been?" You could swear Isaiah killed somebody. For heaven's sake people, grow up.
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Jun 7, 2007 10:23 PM
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It seems to me people who keep saying "grow up" need to take their own advice. "Grow up" is meaningless. No one is being childish here.
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Jun 7, 2007 10:29 PM
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I will miss his character, I liked the character a lot and the interaction with "christina." But, it's about time, today of all days where Paris Hilton was released after THREE days in jail, when celebrities are held accountable for their actions. Do I think it will hurt the show? I do not like where the show is going with the constant issues between Derek and Merideth and this new love with tr knight and the blonde, particularly the latter. I may end up not watching it if these stupid storylines continue, but celebrities, just as everyone else, need to be held accountable. Nasty words can lead to nasty deeds and shouldn't be accepted by anyone regardless of apologies.
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Jun 7, 2007 10:33 PM
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I can't say I'm surprised - especially after the news of ABC offering T.R. $125,000 per episode. And, of course, there's no closure to his story. He just bolts after leaving Christina at the alter. Shonda says she has the Grey's storyline planned out... was it a Burke-less storyline? I hope Isaiah realizes what an opportunity he just blew.
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Jun 7, 2007 10:37 PM
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Although this has been rumored for a while... I am a little shocked. I didn't really expect that this would happen. I'm sad because it's a pretty big change (Shonda wasn't kidding when she said she would burn everything down), but I'm also indifferent because I didn't really enjoy his character from the start.
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Jun 7, 2007 10:39 PM
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He should have hired Paris' pyschiatrist and attorney. They probably would have gotten him a raise and a 3-year guarantee!
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Jun 7, 2007 10:42 PM
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The fact is, that if in my job, I called someone a faggot, then started choking another (which was reported), I would have been fired on the spot. Words can cut just as deeply as an actual knife. Not only that, but the rumors were that he was not very well liked on the show by other actors and made it difficult, I'm sure there's more than just those two incidences.
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Jun 7, 2007 10:47 PM
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I'm not in the least bit surprised. The only surprise was that it took so long for this to be announced. He made the working environment uncomfortable & that is never a good thing.
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Jun 7, 2007 10:50 PM
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This is a big mistake on Grey's part....I mean yeah it was wrong for him to say the things he did, but he was a big part of the show and now I think the show would be missing some kind of spark because of it...it's not the end of the world that he's not returning but his character will definitely be missed!!
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Jun 7, 2007 10:50 PM
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Isaiah Washington apologized 300 times and still got fired, hey? I wish him well in other endeavors, if he gets a chance to work again after this.
You know what's funny? I'm a Black woman, the creator of this show is a Black woman and I find it duller than living hell. The one Black woman on the show is dumpy and uninteresting, while her White counterparts are glamorous and are given all kinds of storyline opportunuties. I know that the reality of the situation is that in order to get a foot in the door of Hollywood, Ms Rimes had to write something mainstream. But I guess I just can't help being surprised that the Black characters she has created, are underwhelming and uninteresting as a whole.
Feeling this way, I don't think Isaiah Washington should see his ouster as a total loss. TV shows only get about 5 years anyway. But he could find himself shut out of Hollywood for his mistake. Like I said in my first paragraph, good luck to him.
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Jun 7, 2007 10:51 PM
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