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Exclusive: Isaiah "Really Angry," Contemplates Lawsuit
Isaiah Washington by Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com
Turns out, Isaiah Washington wasn't joking when, in response to being axed from Grey's Anatomy yesterday, he issued the Network-inspired statement, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." In an exclusive interview, the actor's spokesperson, Howard Bragman, tells me, "Isaiah really is angry."
Particularly mystifying to the star is the timing of his ouster — months after he revived the F-word controversy by repeating the slur backstage at the Golden Globes. "If they wanted to fire him," Bragman asks, "why didn't they fire him when [the incident] happened? Why did they say, 'Here's what you need to do if you want to come back… ' and then, when he did everything that was asked of him, he still gets fired. Why do you treat somebody like that?"
"If you made a mistake, you acknowledged the mistake, you went into counseling, you met with the groups, you did the PSA, you did everything that was asked of you, and then they still kick you in the gut? How would you feel?"
While Bragman says there was no formal agreement with ABC that if Washington did X, Y and Z he could keep his job, "There was a discussion and it was agreed upon that this is what needs to be done to come back, and he did everything," he notes. "And, in fact, we were the ones who pushed for the PSA."
Although Bragman won't rule out Washington taking possible legal action against ABC, he adds, "It would be premature to speculate. We have time to discuss that." (A rep for ABC Studios declined to comment on a potential lawsuit, but a studio executive with knowledge of the TV biz says producers have the legal right to not pick up an actor's option — with or without cause.)
Might Washington, who is currently shooting the independent movie The Least of These in Los Angeles, make a brief return to Grey's to tie up Burke's loose ends? "That would be a question for ABC," Bragman says. "I certainly can't imagine they would tell him they're not renewing his contract and then ask him to come back and clean things up."
Folks, something tells me it's gonna be a long while before we get to say that other F-word about this story: finished.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:03 PM
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hahahahaha, how can he sue for getting fired, can Dominic Monaghan sue for getting killed off on Lost?
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Jun 8, 2007 3:22 PM
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lol, come on didn't Isaiah see the signs the rest of us did! Between how the finale ended and the way he kept inserting foot into mouth! If he had from the beginning just acknowledged, apologized and made amends then I believe we'd still have Burke! But Isaiah just couldn't accept any fault or responsibility until the bitter end so he should man up, accept it and move on!
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Jun 8, 2007 3:25 PM
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All they'd have to do is bring up that he assaulted a co-worker and his case would be laughed out.
I am very glad this happened. No one should have to work around someone that they have to worry about snapping like this.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:27 PM
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This should really make a lot of people sleep better at night. Hopefully all is now right with the world.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:27 PM
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Legal action? On what grounds? Apparently his contract was in a place where it could be picked up, or not. And not won. Period. Never mind the horrible press he gave the show, or the fact that he apparently was a horror behind the scenes. ABC had the right to not pick up his contract. And thankfully, they didn't.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:27 PM
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Whatever! I am glad to see him go. Why would he sue, does he think that the fans would want to see him when they know that he was fired? Just walk away man, you already look bad enough.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:31 PM
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I am little surprised ABC decided to give him the boot. Considering he did go to rehab and did that national sponsorship. But then again it was his actions at the Globes is what sinked it. I will miss the chemistry between him and Yang. I hope he learned a lesson from all of this.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:33 PM
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Gee, Washington's angry -- imagine that. Since when isn't he? Hasn't he learned ANYTHING from all of this???
Absolutely mind-boggling.
And he apparently feels that doing actual good things with his life (the PSA, cleaning up his act, making amends) were all for nothing if he couldn't keep his job. Nice. Hey, Washington -- some people act like decent people most of the time just because it's the right thing to do, not because they expect something out of it or are trying to save their hides.
And I thought he was despicable before!
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Jun 8, 2007 3:41 PM
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Does he not have anyone who could just say "Isaiah, you look like an ass. Stop acting like a baby and get over it."
If he worked in the real world and got in a physical altercation with a co-worker and used homophobic slurs against another co-worker, he would have been fired on the spot. He should be grateful he didn't get canned when it happened and has been able to cash some extra checks and pad that bank account even more.
I would love to see Burke re-cast. Lots of other shows have re-cast a character and moved on. Remember Stephen and Fallon on Dynasty? Lots of men could play Burke. I would love to see Blair Underwood on TV each week. Yum.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:44 PM
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i think this is too little too late, he should have been gone months ago. i use to enjoy his work, but after that stuff came out & he denied it, it seemed like too much b.s., i'm glad he's gone, i wasn't able to enjoy this season of Grey's knowing that there is tension & hate going on. With him gone i might tune into next season, also i think the writing was crap this year, really boring stuff, & i hate how George failed the exam, it seemed like his character was getting punished.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:46 PM
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His spokes's person is a dumb dumb.
The reason he wasn't fired right away was because Shondra plays to the fans. She knew that we wouldn't like it if Burke just left. She had a story to tell. I understand her decision completely.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:47 PM
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I am in no way trying to say that what he said was not wrong on both occasions we all say things in anger that we later regard but we are giving the opportunity to apologize and attempt to make it better which I believe he as done. I wonder if the same outcome would have happened if one of the other castmates had accidentially said the "N" word and went on the apologize for it after all this happens alot. I feel if he was not black and he made the same mistake and apoligized America would have welcomed him back with open arms. I will miss his character on the show and his persence will be missed. I think he brought a lot to this show why can't ABC and the rest of the world move on there are more important issues in the world today.
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Jun 8, 2007 3:56 PM
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...if one of the other castmates had accidentally said the "N" word and went on the apologize for it after all this happens alot...
Again I have to wonder: where do some of the people posting here live? All the people saying that they're surrounded by hate speech can't all be wrong -- can they? I have never, ever, ever once heard anyone ever use the N word at work. Nor the F word. Nor almost any other insult or slur. Yes, I've heard things from random drunk or deranged people in public before, but I've probably heard the N word in person less than half a dozen times in my entire life.
Seriously, if this is a commonplace happening all around you, you need to move!
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Jun 8, 2007 4:14 PM
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It's official -- Isaiah Washington is an idiot!
How can he sue them for not renewing his contract?
As bantling14 correctly pointed out, his contract was up for renewal -- it was up to ABC and the show's producers to offer him a new one or let him go. They chose to let him go. No contract was broken.
How is that legally actionable?
Quote: While Bragman says there was no formal agreement with ABC that if Washington did X, Y and Z he could keep his job, "There was a discussion and it was agreed upon that this is what needs to be done to come back, and he did everything," he notes. "And, in fact, WE were the ones that pushed for the PSA."
I suspect that, from ABC's view, that was merely to keep him from being fired immediately midway through the season -- it wasn't a promise to keep him indefinitely. Either way, if it wasn't a "formal" agreement (i.e., in writing), Washington doesn't have a leg to stand on.
With the facts that are currently known, I see no way Washington has any grounds for a lawsuit.
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Jun 8, 2007 4:18 PM
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