Celebrity Feuds
ABC "Greatly Dismayed" by Isaiah's Outburst

Isaiah WashingtonABC has gotten around to responding to Isaiah Washington's use of a gay slur at the Golden Globes, and, no, they're not at all happy about it.

The ABC statement, first reported by TV Guide's Michael Ausiello, reads, "We have a long standing policy to create and maintain respectful workplaces for all our employees. We dealt with the original situation in October, and thought the issue resolved. Therefore, we are greatly dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, that he himself deemed 'unfortunate' in his previous public apology. We take this situation very seriously, and his actions are unacceptable and are being addressed."

Washington said he had "never" called gay castmate T.R. Knight "a faggot" after Monday's Golden Globes. Knight told Ellen DeGeneres that he had, in fact, heard Washington use the term during a scuffle with Patrick Dempsey on the set of "Grey's Anatomy."

It is unclear when the network will make a decision on Washington's future on the show.



Tags: Grey's Anatomy, Grey'sAnatomy, Isaiah Washington, IsaiahWashington

Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 7) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. If it walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck!

Posted at 6:00PM on Jan 18th 2007 by David

32. I don't think he deserves to be fired.

They all need to move on from it and I think they had moved on..until the people were mentioning it.. yes, he should have used a different word or just said 'I didn't call him the F' word.. but still......

MOVE ON! everyone, everyday calls someone a name.

He doesn't need to be fired over something stupid like that. jmo

Posted at 6:01PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Samantha

33. I would like know how Mr. Washington would feel if he overheard one of his castmates calling him the "N" word? It would definitely NOT be accepted nor should what he said go without punishment.

Posted at 6:05PM on Jan 18th 2007 by MB

34. Gisele,
I have no prob. w/calling black people black. BUT some black people rather be called African-american instead of black. And how do I know this u might ask??...well, cause my BROTHER N LAW IS BLACK.! And he even says they same thing. It depends on the person!. So pls., don't speak for ALL black people.

Posted at 6:06PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Little Wings NYC

35. Yawn... Ordinarily I'd care... but I don't watch the corporate-controlled major networks anymore (sponsors, take note).

Posted at 6:07PM on Jan 20th 2007 by BillN

36. Some of you seem to be missing this entirely.

It was supposedly dealt with when it happened. But someone interviewed the cast backstage at the Golden Globes,and that someone asked about it...bringing it up...and Isaiah chimed in, "I never called him..." Therefore, ISAIAH brought up again. So not only was the person who initially said it...not the gay man...bringing it up again, but then he lied and said he never said it, when there were witnesses to him saying it.

How do you apologize for saying something, then bring it up again, then deny saying it (so much for an apology...kinda makes THAT moot, eh?)...and somehow it becomes the OTHER person's fault?

Posted at 6:09PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Michele

37. Well his comments were not appropriate and not politically correct- however- I do believe his comments fall under FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!!! Get over it- who cares! a ducks a duck and a ..........

Posted at 6:13PM on Jan 18th 2007 by tara

38. FROM NOW ON CALL ME GERMAN_AMERICAN DAMMIT!!!

Posted at 6:14PM on Jan 18th 2007 by MR

39. yes everyday someone is called something, but doesn't that make everyone who stands idlely by no better than the prejudice name caller?

people who have patience for racism against anyone whether it stems from the color of a person's skin to their sexual orientation are the same people that would walk by a dying man, because someone else will assist and their time is too precious.

what a world . . .nothing has changed and that isn't acceptable to me.

Posted at 6:22PM on Jan 18th 2007 by kd

40. SO NOW CALLING SOMEONE A N**GER IS THE SAME AS CALLING SOMEONE GAY DAMN PEOPLE ARE SOOOOO STUPID. If he wanted to throw back insults he could of called him ugly fat or anything else for that matter but why N*GGER so you see that my colored folks being black is the equvilant to being gay well atleast in white peoples eyes

Posted at 6:30PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Im just saying!

41. For jenny Jen and Lauren

You are as ignorant as Washington.

And as for little wing, My color is Black and my nationality is African American. I can't speak for all black people but MOST of us would like to be called BLACK. Like most of you would be called WHITE. right? I don't know what your BROTHER IN LAW wants to be called but if he is a african American he is BLACK

Posted at 6:34PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Gisele

42. To #8

You are so close minded and judgmental!!!!! It just makes me want to bitch slap you!! I know "men" (using the term loosely here) like you that give humanity a bad name.

I dated a homophobic racist like you. Its embarrasing to be around you when you spew your hateful crap. I'm sure you're single!!!!!!! And if not WTF is she thinking?!!!!!!!!!!

I think Washington should not get canned, but he should to do community service hours for GLAAD to prove to the public he isn't an a**whole. If he repeats his behavior THEN can him, or we won't watch the show until he is.

Posted at 6:35PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Straight Woman

43. chill out people...he is only a nugga

Posted at 6:36PM on Jan 18th 2007 by d - man

44. His actions are NO DIFFERENT than those of MIchael Richards, who will never work in Hollywood again.

Folks, we can't pick and choose which minorities can be called vile names and which ones can't.

Fire the asshole!

Posted at 6:45PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Not Fond of Double Standards

45. No. 9 You must be colored because you sound angry from experience, listen, this is about calling him a fagget on tv, he came out backstage and said i never called him a fagget so he said it again, and all the other members were unhappy nobody was smiling
that was terrible, that is why patrick dempsey got into a fight with him
he is a big mouth, a trouble matter, and God knows whatelse he is so arogant, i dont know how those people are going to work with him, i cant stand to look at him, by the way, i am straight, and he knew exactly what he was doing.
He should be fired but they can't because they will call this racial, remembear that is how the murdaere oj got off, they made that into racial and it was not racial she was white and so was ron goldman, that was another joke.

Posted at 7:58AM on Jan 19th 2007 by audrey rose

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