Isaiah Washington Says T.R. Knight Should've Been Fired

[gas_chick]

Ok you want to excuse his first offense why was it necessary for him to reiterate it on national television. The guy is a homophobe and an idiot for not just keeping his mouth shut. IMO he was fired because of his comments at, what was it, the Golden Globes or Emmy's.

[KrisNine]

I think that if they were set on firing him, it should have been done from the beginning. I don't like what he said at all, period. Slurs only show your ignorance. However, I agree with a lot of you when you say that the network didn't act in good faith because he did everything he was asked to do. If the intention was to fire him, then they shouldn't have allowed him to think that he was saving himself by doing PSAs and going to "rehab".

[Crystal]

As reported by The National Enquirer who first broke the story and seems to have a mole on set (they even printed everything that would happen on the Grey's season finale weeks before it aired! lol):

The problems began when Isaiah - who plays Dr. Preston Burke - choked co-star Patrick Dempsey - who plays Dr. "McDreamy" Derek Shepherd - during a violent on-set brawl on Oct. 9.

At one point in the melee, Isaiah yelled at Dempsey, "I'm not your little faggot like T.R."

T.R. Knight plays mild-mannered Dr. George O'Malley on the hit ABC show.

The ENQUIRER broke the story without naming Knight, but he later decided to come out of the closet.

The cast managed to smooth things over - until they took the stage at the Golden Globes on Jan. 15 after winning the award for Best TV Drama.

During a question- and-answer session, Isaiah stepped forward and announced: "I did not call T.R. a faggot. Never happened, never happened."

He may have directed that comment at Patrick Dempsey but he did call TR a faggot and that's just not right.

I'm not saying that ABC and whomever are totally right in the way they've handled the situation but Isaiah trying to play himself as the innocent one and the victim in all this is just plain disgusting. Fact is, if he had never gotten pissed off on set, attacked Patrick Dempsey or used the word, he wouldn't have been fired. He started it so he should handle this situation with some dignity and not go putting blame on other people for his shortcomings and comparing himself to Malcolm X (like he did in another interview). He should think about going to anger management. It'll probably save him from being fired in the future and labeled a bigot.

[january]

Originally Posted by Crystal

He should think about going to anger management. It'll probably save him from being fired in the future and labeled a bigot.

Thats what so ironic, though. He did go to anger management, per ABC's request, to save his job. Good job that did. In any case, I am not condoning using slurs. But as someone who has been called derogatory names before, there is a way of handling it in a mature manner. I do think that this was something that happened on set, but in a private manner. That said, I think it should have been handled between the two individuals. I think ABC only got involved because Heigl and Knight promoted it so much. I think Isaiah's Emmy remarks were out of line, but I think it was due to alcohol and feeling bullied and set aside by his castmates. As much as I dislike bigots, I also dislike people who get their panties in a bunch when they are called something derogatory, and whine and whine about it, instead of trying to settle it in a mature way. I don't know what else Isaiah could have done to keep his job.

[Crystal]

Originally Posted by january

Thats what so ironic, though. He did go to anger management, per ABC's request, to save his job. Good job that did.

He didn't go to anger management by ABC's request. He had some bullshit counseling just to try and save face.

"Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington has announced that he will check into a treatment center for psychological evaluation, following the controversy over his anti-gay slur against co-star T.R. Knight.
"I have begun counseling," Washington said. "I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again."

The big problem with what happened was Isaiah going out of his way, grabbing the mic at the Golden Globes press conference and declaring "I did NOT call TR a faggot" with TR standing there and all the the reporters looking at them. TR had never really spoken about the incident and KH dismissed it all as a bit too much testosterone before the GG. But having IW categorically deny it all happened and repeating the slur, is what made KH stick up for TR at the GG and then TR went on Ellen and said he was surprised IW had denied using the slur because he was on set that day and heard IW refer to him as a faggot.

If it hadn't been IW's 2nd strike at the GG, I think the cast and IW would've been fine with everything because the controversy had died down by then. The GG bit is what put the controversy at a whole new level and ultimately put a tremendous amount of pressure on the cast (everywhere they went they were always asked about it) and the mood on set must've definitely changed for the worse especially between TRK/IW/KH.

[RevellingInSane]

Dempsey was involved in a physical altercation with a coworker but that got swept under the rug.

Heigl kept running her mouth about it and she is still there.

Fire them all.

[gas_chick]

Originally Posted by january

Thats what so ironic, though. He did go to anger management, per ABC's request, to save his job. Good job that did. In any case, I am not condoning using slurs. But as someone who has been called derogatory names before, there is a way of handling it in a mature manner. I do think that this was something that happened on set, but in a private manner. That said, I think it should have been handled between the two individuals. I think ABC only got involved because Heigl and Knight promoted it so much. I think Isaiah's Emmy remarks were out of line, but I think it was due to alcohol and feeling bullied and set aside by his castmates. As much as I dislike bigots, I also dislike people who get their panties in a bunch when they are called something derogatory, and whine and whine about it, instead of trying to settle it in a mature way. I don't know what else Isaiah could have done to keep his job.

Keeping his big trap shut would probably have been the answer.

[Bellatheball]

Originally Posted by Mel1973

I don't know that they should've fired the damn guy - he did do all that he was asked to do. What more could he have done? He went to counseling (he needed to, he has/had issues) and he did the PSA and he kept his mouth shut about this shit - unlike most of the rest of the cast....

I agree with this however........ he's upset because it isn't fair. Sweethart, life ain't fair. Get used to it.

[kingcap72]

Originally Posted by witchcurlgirl

Isiah Washington tried to make up for what he did, but no chance to make up for what he did was given to Imus.....why does Isaiah think he's entitled?

We can't have double standards...

Although in the interest of fairness, I don't think either of them should have lost their jobs.

How many of us can honestly say that we have never used any type of slur?

The big difference between Imus and Washington is that Imus was costing CBS money when advertisers were pulling out. Had that happened with Grey's Anatomy, Washington would've been fired a lot earlier. Not to mention, Imus has a lengthy history of making racist statements over the air, whereas Washington doesn't.

And both should've been fired because while free speech is important it doesn't give people the right to insult people because of their race, sexual preference or religion.

And you're right, most of us have used slurs in our life. But when you use those slurs in a public forum then there are going to consequences. Especially if you use them in the workplace. That's why there are laws against it.

[witchcurlgirl]

Originally Posted by kingcap72

The big difference between Imus and Washington is that Imus was costing CBS money when advertisers were pulling out. Had that happened with Grey's Anatomy, Washington would've been fired a lot earlier. Not to mention, Imus has a lengthy history of making racist statements over the air, whereas Washington doesn't.

And both should've been fired because while free speech is important it doesn't give people the right to insult people because of their race, sexual preference or religion.

And you're right, most of us have used slurs in our life. But when you use those slurs in a public forum then there are going to consequences. Especially if you use them in the workplace. That's why there are laws against it.

Something has to be happening behind the scenes at ABC that we are not aware of......either external or internal pressure...

Because corporations dont care about these things unless it affects the bottom line.....and as they haven't done anything until now, something has made them change their minds

[kingcap72]

Originally Posted by witchcurlgirl

Something has to be happening behind the scenes at ABC that we are not aware of......either external or internal pressure...

Because corporations dont care about these things unless it affects the bottom line.....and as they haven't done anything until now, something has made them change their minds

Yeah, I think so too. Personally, I think they decided to fire Washington months ago. But like I said in another thread, ABC was in a tough spot. They had two minorities to contend with. A black guy and a gay guy. You fire one, you get accused of discrimination. But if you don't do anything then you get accused of discrimination by the other one. So, they bided their time, and let Washington go when the season was done and the dust had settled a little.

Because Washington had become a PR nightmare, while Knight had people rallying to his cause. It was the same thing with Imus. He had become a PR nightmare for CBS, while the Rutgers women had people rallying to their cause. When it comes down to it it's all about money and image. Most advertisers aren't going to want to have their products associated with any kind of controversy.

[january]

Originally Posted by witchcurlgirl

Although in the interest of fairness, I don't think either of them should have lost their jobs.

How many of us can honestly say that we have never used any type of slur?

Thats why I am inclined to not call Isaiah a bigot, just extremely insensitive when angry, and prone to acts of stupidity. He doesn't have a history of hatred towards gays. I don't think that the comment was directed at Knight, but at Dempsey in the heat of an argument. I think thats what he was trying to clarify at the Golden Globes, although that was a stupid move. I think he said that at GG because some of the castmates wouldn't let it go in interviews and the like, and he was feeling the pressure. Is he dumb? Yes. But I'm not entirely believing that he's a bigot. He's been crucified alot, but he's also got support from the gay community (did anyone see the petition started by his homosexual fans?) Listen, when I've had people use derogatory terms around me, normally it was due entirely because of ignorance, and not because of hate. As long as I educated them about why it was inappropriate, most were entirely mortified that they had used it. Alot of people are dumb, but I'm not so inclined to believe that everyone who slings around a word is an awful bigot. I realize that it may offend people here, but I am really, 100% against censorship. I think we have become to PC these days. If anyone gets their feelings hurt, regarding anything, than someone's head must be on the chopping block. And it seems like certain people are crucified (Imus, Washington), while others promote racism, or at the very least cultural insensitivity (Angelina in blackface, anyone?) and they get Oscar buzz...or Howard Stern calls women bitches and whores and no one blinks. Its just strange to me.

[yanna]

What a whiny little bitch. Yes, I'm sure they should fire TR for daring to get offended and not shutting up and taking it. I'd love to have seen Grays handle that one.
TR, you're fired!
But, why?
Because Isaac called someone a faggot and you thought it was you.
But, but it was me!
Good, then, you admit it. You're fired.

Am I taking crazy pills here? Should I just show up at my workplace and insult people and expect to not get in trouble? Why should that insincere homophobic shithead get away with it?

[mamaste]

Originally Posted by southernbelle

I also remember hearing that the slur was directed at Patrick, not Knight, when it originally happened.

This is what I remember as well. I found it odd that T.R. was the one who came out. I'm really wondering if they're not covering up something else and T.R. came out to protect someone else. Reading what Washington has to say, it seems likely. This is all purely from a gossip standpoint.

[yanna]

mamaste, that's an interesting theory! Perhaps TR fell on the grenade to rescue Dempsey's masculinity.

Though, I must say that the way I remember it, IW said something like "I'm not your little faggot" referring to TR. Or possibly some other person but didn't seem to be calling Dempsey that.