Isaiah Washington: "I was fired because of racism"

Natee471 · June 29th, 2007, 03:45 AM

LOS ANGELES - "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington said racism was a factor in his firing from the hit ABC series after he twice used an anti-gay slur. Washington, who initially used the epithet during an onset clash with a co-star, told Newsweek magazine that "someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me." He tried to make amends by expressing remorse and volunteering to enter a counseling program to understand how the confrontation got out of hand, he told Newsweek.

"My mistake was believing that I would get the support from my network and all of my cast mates across the board. My mistake was believing I could correct a wrong with honesty and sincerity," he said in the interview posted online Thursday.

"My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts," he said.

His unwillingness to act like a submissive black at work was part of the problem, Washington said.

"Well, it didn't help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn't a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn't speak like I'd just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime," he said.

"I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that `some people' were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I'm a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn't go around saying `Yessah, massa sir' and `No sir, massa' to everyone?
"It's nuts when your presence alone can just scare people, and that made me a prime candidate to take the heat in a dysfunctional family," he said.
ABC declined comment Thursday. In its one public statement regarding Washington, issued in January, the network said his actions were "unacceptable."

Washington, who used the slur against co-star T.R. Knight during a confrontation with Patrick Dempsey, repeated the word backstage at the Golden Globes in January in denying the first incident. A public apology to Knight and others followed.

http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_179193719.html

kingcap72 · June 29th, 2007, 03:49 AM

Next excuse will be "I was fired because I wouldn't give T.R. my lunch money."

Grimmlok · June 29th, 2007, 07:01 AM

Quote:

"I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that `some people' were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I'm a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn't go around saying `Yessah, massa sir' and `No sir, massa' to everyone?

To which the HR person exclaimed "yes, that's it exactly! You're not a 19th century slave stereotype and people just don't like that!"

Jesus Christ, what a fucking retard. Race card, once again pulled!

mella · June 29th, 2007, 08:32 AM

Yes we get it . No need to give another statement

Sweetie · June 29th, 2007, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimmlok

To which the HR person exclaimed "yes, that's it exactly! You're not a 19th century slave stereotype and people just don't like that!"

Jesus Christ, what a fucking retard. Race card, once again pulled!

I know right. That statement that he made right there is the biggest load of shit I have heard in a long time.

Lily · June 29th, 2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingcap72

Next excuse will be "I was fired because I wouldn't give T.R. my lunch money."

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

cataroo · June 29th, 2007, 10:42 AM

Good Lord...I am soooooooo tired of this crap from this man.

You got fired. It's happened to all of us. Get over it.

HWBL · June 29th, 2007, 10:46 AM

He was the asshole who got extra segments on Oprah when she had part of the cast of that show over. I guess he's hoping using the race thing will get him another invite from his fairy Godmother, the big "O"

Lily · June 29th, 2007, 10:48 AM

I had a Latina roommate who used to pull shit like this. She used to act like an asshole and then say "It's because I'm Latina, that's why I do that." She'd throw tantrums, call me names, boss me around, take over the apartment, once she threatened to "fuck me up" because I asked her why everything that went wrong in the apartment was always my fault. She pushed me into a corner, screaming and spitting on me.

And then she said, "That's just how I am."

A caveat: I've known plenty of Latina women who were very lovely, and wouldn't pull crap like that. But she used her race to give herself carte blanche to act like psycho bitchbag and then when I did something that crossed her, she'd play the minority card again.

The stupid part is: She has more money, security, family, etc. than I do, but assumes because I'm white, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. She also feels she can act however she pleases because of her race.

And when I hear Isaiah pulling this shit, I want to say: Shut up. You were fired not because you're black, but because you were wrong.

Grimmlok · June 29th, 2007, 10:57 AM

You should have stomped her ass into the ground, taken her money, car and all her posessions and then sold her into slavery, claiming "oh sorry, it's cuz im white."

Stupid cow.

Sweetie · June 29th, 2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lily

I had a Latina roommate who used to pull shit like this. She used to act like an asshole and then say "It's because I'm Latina, that's why I do that." She'd throw tantrums, call me names, boss me around, take over the apartment, once she threatened to "fuck me up" because I asked her why everything that went wrong in the apartment was always my fault. She pushed me into a corner, screaming and spitting on me.

And then she said, "That's just how I am."

A caveat: I've known plenty of Latina women who were very lovely, and wouldn't pull crap like that. But she used her race to give herself carte blanche to act like psycho bitchbag and then when I did something that crossed her, she'd play the minority card again.

The stupid part is: She has more money, security, family, etc. than I do, but assumes because I'm white, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. She also feels she can act however she pleases because of her race.

And when I hear Isaiah pulling this shit, I want to say: Shut up. You were fired not because you're black, but because you were wrong.

I wish she would have...

Oh it would have been a bad day if someone spit on me. One of us would not come out alive.

Grimmlok · June 29th, 2007, 11:04 AM

The last girl that spit on me was pinning me down on the ground, so i clocked her in the head with a branch.

I was 6, but still. Bitch.

Lily · June 29th, 2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetie

I wish she would have...

Oh it would have been a bad day if someone spit on me. One of us would not come out alive.

You...wish she would have fucked me up?

Sweetie · June 29th, 2007, 11:20 AM

That's funny, Grimm.

We have a lady around here that spits on people. She will beg for money and if you don't give it to her she will literally spit on you. She came toward me one day and I was just before running her over. I ran to my car and locked the doors, well she came up to my car and started knocking on my car window so I finally put the car in reverse and floored it.