Isaiah Washington: 'I Can Neither Defend Nor Explain My Behavior'

January 19, 2007 | Grey's Anatomy

“Extra” has learned that the cast of “Grey’s Anatomy” was back at work on Wednesday after having Monday and Tuesday off – their “weekend.”

In light of the recent controversy, Isaiah Washington issued this statement:

I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community...
- Isaiah Washington

“I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance. By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on 'Grey’s Anatomy.' I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help.”

“I know the power of words, especially those that demean. I realize that by using one filled with disrespect I have hurt more than T.R. and my colleagues. With one word, I’ve hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted. I welcome the chance to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I’ve opened.”

“T.R.’s courage throughout this entire episode speaks to his tremendous character. I hold his talent, and T.R. as a person, in high esteem. I know a mere apology will not end this, and I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity.”

Ellen DeGeneres called “Extra” with this statement about the “Grey’s” scandal:

"In recent times we've seen a lot of people using hateful words... Hopefully this incident will put an end to this, and people will stop using this word and other hateful words."

comments

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acai berry diet plan oprah
March 22, 2010

The biggest tragedy to come out of all of this is the ignorant flotsam that 99% of you have written here.

Heather
June 8, 2007

Well Mr. Washington is feeling the repercussions of his actions regardless of his intensions. I was stunned when I found out TR Knight was gay, because dang!!!! He’s so adorable you just want to take him home and keep him.

Regardles TR Knight is a great actor and brings his sweetness to his character. The fact that he is gay? The women may try to convert him back! He is so cute and now that it is out I doubt very seriously it’ll change the person he is and shouldn’t hurt his career. I most defenately hope the directors of Grey’s Anatomy doesn’t try to change “George” on the show.

As for Mr. Washington? Man, you have to remember your in the public eye. What you say and what you do regardless if it is intensional or not will come back onto you.

Rather how severe Mr. Washington should be punished should come from TR Knight and how he wants to resolve this situation. How would regular employers handle this on regular jobs. Most probably termination or some sort of suspension without pay.

Kim
March 12, 2007

This is so ridiculous I can’t believe it. These people that are actors have a responsibility to BE APPROPRIATE. Using those words in public is NOT appropriate no matter what your personal feelings are. You people that say the Bible says it’s wrong have not read the entire Bible. Do your research UNBIASED before you make those comments please. They are uneducated.

Robin
March 12, 2007

I am extremely annoyed that the media keeps fueling this ” let’s fire Isaiah” thing! Any comments ot votes that are taken regarding this matter are NOT scientific. It shouldn’t be up to us or ABC to deal with, but with Shonda Rhimes and the staff of Grey’s Anatomy”. T.R. Knight needs to understand that this was all fueled by the media. Whoever brought this back up after the Golden Globes presentation was inviting dissent and trouble. If Washington leaves the show, I will stop watching.

Dee Dee
January 23, 2007

It is aggravating that the fact that everybody is so willing to fire isaah for making a mistake in judement but when the guy who played in senfeild used a racial comment nobody made such a big deal and when it comes down to it its all about skin color if isaah was white and he made this comment nobody would make bigger deal about this but since he is black everybody want him to be fired. Thats wrong if you let that guy from senfield talk like that and get away with it why can’t you do the same for isaah? That problem with our world today at the end of day it about skin color maybe it not as bad like in 50’s but its still an issue in some area. I think what all of tv station and need to do is move on and forgive this man because he made a mistake people do that sometimes but don’t make this man life more miserable and makes him feel guilty for what he said for rest of his life is said sorry now let that be and let him keep his job because he derserve to be forgiven for this just like that guy who worked on senfield if you can forgive that than you guys can forgive this.

ayana
January 23, 2007

It’s really frustrating that when a African American state a word of disappointment to a Caucasian Actor that the whole world wants to punish him including the Caucasian Media. But you all are racially predijuce when it comes down to African Americans. The media has nothing good to say about African Americans. The white comedian from Seinfield talk about Racial comments to the media and know one stated anything about him losing acting jobs or promotions. What this shows me that the producers are predijuce on extra as well. It’s okay for the world to do character assaisnation when it comes to African Americans but not if your White(Caucasian). Don’t forget the Bible states to be Guy or lesiban is wrong and goes against God Commandments and principles. I say get over it and leave it alone. Isn’t enough u guys take over the whole world that you need be supreme over all.

Jacque
January 22, 2007

In the jobs that I held, it doesn’t matter who you are. If you discriminate against someone because they are different (even if you ARE ‘remorseful’), you are FIRED.

In short ….

Washington should be held to the same standard, that the EVERYDAY PERSON is HELD too….

FIRE HIM.

debra
January 22, 2007

I’m a great fan of the show and I love the cast, the whole case If it not broke don’t change it. I belive that if Isaiah has apologize and TR accepts it they should move on, everyone has proublems with a co-worker from time to time. I know it hurts,but don’t let it get you down if you do then everyone, you comes in contact with will hurt your’re feelings and after a while there won’t be anyone for you to work with,without saying anything that sounds like a gay word. So in that case no one would ever come out! So just let it roll off your back YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT! LOVE YA YOUR FAN SANDY

sandy
January 22, 2007

Get a life people this is the real world! If your afraid of getting hurt
perhaps you should try living in a bubble!! I dont think its fair that homosexuals are allowed to throw their ideas and values on others, but guess what I live in the real world!!!!

Jennie Raymond
January 22, 2007

knight has no jackson, sharpton,naacp
who backs the gay white people, only thier friends WASHINGTON SHOULD GO GO
and he called him the white racial
name more then once, on stage at the
awards…..

virginia
January 21, 2007

Those of you who insist that Washington be fired must have never uttered a biased, stereotypical, bigotted, racist statement in your lives. How proud we can all be that you have never once strayed from the straight and narrow. Never made a comment knowing you did not mean it and wonder why you even said it in the first place. You have never laughed at a joke at another’s expense and then felt terrible for thinking it was remotely funny. You are lucky. The world is filled with so much prejudice these days that it is unfortunate but likely that every race and social sect of society will at one time or another attack the only things that make us different from each other. We are human but we are different colors, or we are the same color but we have different sexual orientations, we have different orientations but different views on what is acceptable by God. I could never presume to be so hypocritical as to condemn Washington for “allegedly” making a mistake and blurting out something he may not even have intended. But the bigger picture here is that he wants to make it right and if he were truly a biggot, no job, no paycheck, no fame could keep the ugly side of a prejudiced person from showing itself. In my experience, those who hate don’t apologize and certainly don’t ask to be educated by what they would consider to be the enemy in a situation like this.
My only sadness in all this is that Knight & Washington appear to have had a very good working relationship. Their characters are so compassionately intertwined that it could not have been all acting. Speaking from first hand experience, when you are close friends with someone and learn something that they are very much a different person than you thought you knew - you feel betrayed. You feel like someone played you for a fool and didn’t trust you with the truth. It has less to do with homophobia and more to do with trust. I hope Knight and Washington can find a way to coexist and work as well as they have in the past. It would be a shame to lose that incredible dynamic that was developing between them as characters.

Cat
January 20, 2007

I don’t think that Isaiah washington should be fired. Thre is no proof either that he even said it. T.j knight should be a man and personally confront isaiah and he should be fired for not coming out the closet and saying that he is gay like all the other actors did…

yy
January 19, 2007

this is so blown out of proportion in that the resolution is between the two men, which is doable, if frenzy doesn’t rule.

LINDA HODGES
January 19, 2007

Ted Casablanca the miserable quack and irrelevant piece of scum masquerading as some sort of blogger since the very mediocre E! channel demoted him, started this uproar.

There are so many terribly sad and disturbed people who have somehow managed to infiltrate and in many cases hijack the media and we the viewing audience have been subjected to their vile and trouble-stirring methods.

We the viewing public must rebel against people like this Ted Casablanca, his employers @ E! and every other mean-spirited quack “journalist” who have been provided a medium to attack, destroy and wreak havoc on the lives of so called celebrities against whom they have personal vendettas-

This is nothing short of a hate-fest and lately it’s gotten completely out of hand-

Lets take our lives back and stop letting the media inflict their poisonous, inhuman and ulterior motive laden pen’s, tongues and fingers upon us-

We are fighting a war in Iraq, people are being killed in Darfur, Sudan but the likes of Ted Casablanca would have us believe that the most burning issues revolve around personality conflicts and spats on a t.v set-

Tragic and sad!

Audrey
January 19, 2007

Ted Casablanca the miserable quack and irrelevant piece of scum masquerading as some sort of blogger since the very mediocre E! channel demoted him, started this uproar.

There are so many terribly sad and disturbed people who have somehow managed to infiltrate and in many cases hijack the media and we the viewing audience have been subjected to their vile and trouble-stirring methods.

We the viewing public must rebel against people like this Ted Casablanca, his employers @ E! and every other mean-spirited quack “journalist” who have been provided a medium to attack, destroy and wreak havoc on the lives of so called celebrities against whom they have personal vendettas-

This is nothing short of a hate-fest and lately it’s gotten completely out of hand-

Lets take our lives back and stop letting the media inflict their poisonous, inhuman and ulterior motive laden pen’s, tongues and fingers upon us-

We are fighting a war in Iraq, people are being killed in Darfur, Sudan but the likes of Ted Casablanca would have us believe that the most burning issues revolve around personality conflicts and spats on a t.v set-

Tragic and sad!

Anonymous
January 19, 2007

Ted Casablanca the miserable quack and irrelevant piece of scum masquerading as some sort of blogger since the very mediocre E! channel demoted him, started this uproar.

There are so many terribly sad and disturbed people who have somehow managed to infiltrate and in many cases hijack the media and we the viewing audience have been subjected to their vile and trouble stirring methods.

We the viewing public must rebel against people like this Ted Casablanca, his employers @ E! and every other mean-spirited quack “journalist” who have been provided a medium to attack, destroy and wreak havoc on the lives of so called celebrities against whom they have personal vendettas-

This is nothing short of a hate fest and lately it’s gotten completely out of hand-

Lets take our lives back and stop letting the media inflict their poisonous, inhuman and ulterior motive laden pen’s, tongues and fingers upon us-

We are fighting a war, people are being killed in Darfur but the likes of Ted Casablanca would have us believe that the most burning issues revolve around personality spats on a t.v set-

Tragic and sad!

Audrey
January 19, 2007

i forgot what the percentage of people whom said that isiah washignton should be fired, but i know it was very high. the man made a mistake, you all, the media i mean, are giving this more attention than when micheal richardson insulted all the black race across america. lets face it, if this man was white and said that, you all would except his apology, but since he is black, he is taking alot of heat. i seen it in his face that he is hurting for making this mistake. me truthfully, i don’t even look at the 3 major networks that much, because thier is no color, and you all, the american public i mean,would love it to make it one less black man. what a shame

rodney morton
January 19, 2007

Had some one made a coment about Isaiah’s skin color they would be fired. The greys Anatomy Writers should a KIll of Isaiah. Greys Anatomy with Isaiah is a piece of crap. Dump him while there is still life in the show

steve
January 19, 2007

Had some one made a coment about Isaiah’s skin color they would be fired. The greys Anatomy Writers should a KIll of Isaiah. Greys Anatomy with Isaiah is a piece of crap. Dump him while there is still life in the show

steve
January 19, 2007
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