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ABC "Greatly Dismayed" by Isaiah's Outburst

Posted Jan 18th 2007 4:46PM by TMZ Staff

ABC 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

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76. He has apologized. Geesh. LET IT GO. Hopefully, he'll be more sensitive in the future, but that's certainly no reason to lose a job, for crying out loud. How many of you calling for his firing have never in your life uttered a slur?? And because you made a mistake while you were NOT on the job, you should be fired? That's crazy.

Posted at 2:02AM on Jan 19th 2007 by Christine

77. we all work with gay people is this the way you talk about your coworker if it is then we are far worst off then i ever thought.

Posted at 9:11AM on Jan 19th 2007 by william earl james

78. I think it's in the constitution if I'm not mistaken. Yeah that part where it's a person right to suck on bannanas and eat pies. Yeah I thought I read it some where.

I think there are bigger problems out there to worry about.

Posted at 3:20PM on Jan 21st 2007 by spun

79. Sorry Gisele, but saying he used the "F" word in anger only applies to the first time he used the word on the set of Grey's Anatomy. What was his excuse for the second time, after the Golden Awards Show, when he should have been happy and celebrating the success of the show??

Posted at 9:46AM on Jan 19th 2007 by PJ

80. HEY MAYBE MR. KNIGHT SHOULD CALL HIM A STUPID NIGGER AND I.W. WOULD KNOW ITS THE TRUTH. JUST LIKE KNIGHT KNOWS THAT HE IS A FAGGOT WHATS THE BIG DEAL

Posted at 3:47AM on Jan 19th 2007 by MR. FREEDOM OF SPEECH...

81. Let's face it all the actors are replacable....except for Pat.D.

Posted at 6:25AM on Jan 19th 2007 by sue

82. Castrate the bastard, cut out his tongue, tar and feather him, hang him, do what must be done. Lord knows calling a spade a spade is not permitted in the modern world.

Posted at 7:36AM on Jan 19th 2007 by CBGB

83. #7 Lauren

If you are a black women your ancestors came from Africa. That makes you a African American. If you were to fill a employment application it would ask what nationality you are. And you would put African American. Don't be ashame that your roots are from Africa. Be proud. All these nasty comments that these biggots have on here about Washington are so sad. But the people that are using them just wants attention and need to grow up. And I feel really sorry for them. Yes, Washington was WRONG for calling this man a name. It's childish. Does he deserves to be fired. NO! Just remember people. There are Blacks, Whites, Yellow, Red, and Brown, (and what other color) people that are fighting for your freedom and losing their lifes in Irag. This is all stupid shit. Washington needs to shut his mouth and Knight needs to grow some thick skin. Maybe it was good this all happen. Now he is out of the closet.

Posted at 8:46AM on Jan 19th 2007 by Gisele

84. #7 Lauren

If you are a black women your ancestors came from Africa. That makes you a African American. If you were to fill a employment application it would ask what nationality you are. And you would put African American. Don't be ashame that your roots are from Africa. Be proud. All these nasty comments that these biggots have on here about Washington are so sad. But the people that are using them just wants attention and need to grow up. And I feel really sorry for them. Yes, Washington was WRONG for calling this man a name. It's childish. Does he deserves to be fired. NO! Just remember people. There are Blacks, Whites, Yellow, Red, and Brown, (and what other color) people that are fighting for your freedom and losing their lifes in Irag. This is all stupid shit. Washington needs to shut his mouth and Knight needs to grow some thick skin. Maybe it was good this all happen. Now he is out of the closet.

Posted at 8:45AM on Jan 19th 2007 by Gisele

85. This idiot's comment is just one of the reasons why we have wars, violence and hatred in our world. It must have made you feel really great to post something like this. Let's hope you don't re-produce. By the way I am as heterosexual as they come and the term "straight-man" is usually used by men who themselves have not come out of the closet. Think about it buddy.

13. If TJ does not want to be called a faggot, then he should stop sucking d**k and taking it up the ass. He's lucky then even give fags jobs in the first place, much less put them on tv in starring roles. The only good faggot is a dead faggot. Go Isaiah Washington.............you rock!

Posted at 5:26PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Straight-Man

Posted at 12:40PM on Jan 19th 2007 by alan

86. who is the immature person who wrote "should have used the words fudge packer instead?" while i'd like to think they're 12, unfortunately they're probably not.

Posted at 6:39PM on Jan 19th 2007 by ben

87. His lack of sensativity and his alleged confortation with McDreamy makes his charcter less appealing. However ABC should require diversity training for all of their employees. Surely ABC has a diversity program that addresses inappropiate language. Many times those programs will apply to one group of employees and not the other (the star on screen may be exempt but the stage hand would be terminated).

Posted at 10:42AM on Jan 19th 2007 by Robert

88. I am sick of the whole gay thing. They want to be equal but whine like little kids if anyone calls them on their "preference". How many women have been called whores or bitches? Do we call out to the politically correct machine to defend us? No, we do it ourselves, and without waving a civil liberties flag. If he is so proud of being gay, why be in the closet? Why is it such a big deal to be outed if it is such a thing to be proud of? I wish everyone would quit being so sensitive. People get mad. They say things in the heat of anger. Get over it. I no longer watch the view because now instead of Star's wedding, it is a constant gay update everyday from Rosie. If they fire Mr. Washington, I will not watch Grey's anymore either. Not everyone agrees with the media hype. Many of us just wish people would get on with it. I do not care who is gay or straight. I am just sick of the whole decline in morality on the airwaves....it would be nice to be entertained instead of getting a bag full of vulgar inuendos....and I am not some conservative grandma either. I am tired of not being able to watch tv or listen to the radio and being grossed out by sexual depravity. I lived thru the 70's, and we were not as perverse and disgusting as the media and entertainment is today. I used to be a DJ, and we always said, people who had to cuss or be vulgar were just devoid of talent as anyone can do that (are you listening Howard?). It takes talent to get someones attention without hitting below the belt. People are starving in the world. Please! Move on.

Posted at 10:33AM on Jan 19th 2007 by annie gillespie

89. Although I am a true Hollywood follower, (the first thing I do in the mornings at work is check the AOL Entertainment news) Hollywood is so fucking one-sided, bigotry and flat out racist!
What’s got me hot is the “controversy” with Isaiah Washington over his usage of the word “faggot”. Ok, sure, he shouldn’t use the word, whatever. But now everyone is raising such a stink about it! G.L.A.A.D is pissed, and there’s an online petition for him to be fired from his TV show, Grey’s Anatomy.
My issue is, why wasn’t there as much outrage from Hollywood when Michael “KKKramer” Richards called Black men niggers in front of an audience? His entire cast was sticking by him, saying how they supported him. No one started a fucking on-line petition for people to not buy the season 7 DVD set of Seinfeld! After a week or so, the issue was deaded and now no one cares. Only Black artist had something so say and then, even they didn’t do much but run off at the mouth! And, Jesse Jackson goes and has a conference with this bastard to try to “heal racial tension in the US.” Get the fuck outta here! They should have hung his ass out to dry!
But, no! Let someone say something about gay people and Jewish people and all hell breaks loose! Call some a nigger and it’s kinda bad, but forgivable. Again, GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!

Posted at 12:42PM on Jan 19th 2007 by HunE916

90. If he doesn't want to be called the N word he should not use the F word. As a educated black man he should have known that this would blow up in his face. Black actors have it hard enough breaking into hollywood. Thanks Mr. Knight for putting your foot in your mouth. As a Black woman, I am ashamed of you. You first made us proud now your just sad. No one should have to fire him. He should quit and appologize. Stop acting until you can learn how not to be stupid. Even if you thought the man was a F, you should have never said it.

Posted at 11:34AM on Jan 19th 2007 by Ms. Rachel

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