Washington: Racism Caused My Firing

Ex-"Grey's Anatomy" Star Tells Newsweek That His Race, Not Homosexual Slurs, Were Behind Firing

(CBS)  Will Isaiah Washington ever let go?

In a Newsweek article, the embattled former "Grey's Anatomy" star who was fired after using a homosexual slur says he was let go because of racism, not because of the word he used.

"I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that 'some people' were afraid of me around the studio," he told Newsweek. "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."

Everything came to light because Washington and co-star Patrick Dempsey had an argument and Washington ended up calling another co-star, T.R. Knight, a "faggot," something he later denied at the Golden Globes award ceremony. But when he denied the incident, he used the word, angering many people including some co-stars. At ABC's behest, Washington got counseling to address his homophobia.

What upset people was not so much what he said, Washington asserts to the Newsweek reporter, was that it came from an African-American man.

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Photos: The Hate List

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"Someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me," he said. "I see that now, but I didn't then."

But he is not the only person that has made mistakes, Washington said. The difference is that white celebrities who mess up are forgiven.

"I apologized and showed my remorse for what I said and for the pain I caused anyone," he said. "If a black man can't get forgiveness in this country, when so many other people like Robert Downey Jr. and the governor of California get second and third chances … I think that says a lot about race and this country where we stand."

[my2centss]

"If a black man can't get forgiveness in this country, when so many other people like..."

Don Imus?

[ggrape]

Ok Isaiah, here's the problem:

1)You not only engaged in an argument with Patrick Dempsey, you grabbed him by the neck in a one-arm choke hold; AND

2)You refer to another cast member as a "***", then deny it then admit to it.

As a person of color, I am disgusted with you. You do minorities everywhere a great harm when you DO NOT take responsibility for your actions (each of which, described above, is enough to get anyone fired).

Playing the victim, blaming others for your own self-inflicted downfall, then bringing race into it only makes you look childish, small, and ugly.

[jacksteen1]

And with his ignorant "massa and mammy" speech, Washington joins the ranks of "***** that got a taste of the good life but went back to their ********* ways" department.

See ya at Mickey Dee's , Rastus!

[misssuzq]

Posted by retmilspouse at 05:15 PM

PERFECT!!!

[retmilspouse]

Isaiah,
You were one of my favorite characters on Greys Anatomy. I thought the comment you made was blown out of proportion by the other characters and the network. I thought you were upstanding by apologizing and agreeing to the service that they asked you to do. But this is taking it a little to far. You are showing the fans that stood by you that you are really in fact a complainer. I am feeling that the other cast members may have been right about you all along. Just leave gracefully and let it go. Quit your whinning. And by the way your race card is expired.

[wiccantexan]

Oh, get over yourself. Your comments were the window of opportunity the network brass needed to get rid of one of the most boring, uninteresting TV characters I've ever seen.

[grammawhamma]

Gee...I see he got alot out of his rehab sessions...NOT!! He was not the only black star on this show but he was the only boring character. Good riddance!! Go run and cry to your mama.

[cmp271]

Of course it has everything to do with race...after all the white comdeians who were raked over the coals for making stupid comments that wasn't racial was it??? So why should you be different. No one likes you-get the message and get out!!!

There are too many other black actors for you to even make any sense.

[ralan40]

If he was fired for what he said, the firing is just as bad as what he did. So we fire every bigot, idiot, and jerk. Great, now our economy goes into the dumper because of a 55% unemployment rate. We still have the right to free speech. Firing this guy does NOTHING to improve attitudes towards g a y s just like Imus' firing did nothing to improve attitudes towards
b l a c k s.
How is NOT helping these Bigoted people make things better?

[noel_wang]

Is the creator and executive producer of Gray's Anatomy a black woman?
Come on Mr. Washington, can't you do better than this for an excuse? Maybe you should just take a good long look inside your heart and ask yourself, "If everyone thinks I'm an a$$hole, then is it possible that I really might be one?"
I really liked his character on the show, and I got over the anti-gay remark pretty quick, but after reading this racist slop from him, I am glad he is gone.

[wiccantexan]

Grasping at straws.... Not a good legacy.

[oleander8]

The race card is getting mighty frayed around the edges. There have been some big-name white comedians that have taken a worse hit than Isaiah for offensive language and I haven't heard them complain that they were treated differently than black comedians who use the same language habitually. They apologized and got on with their lives.

[rafterman1]

Ironic that Washington, after being bigoted towards gay paeople, is now claiming being a victim of bigotry himself.

[feedback3-2009]

Isaiah,

Stupidity, a nasty temperament, and that fact that you were the least interesting character on the show caused your firing.

At least now you can add racist to your repertoire. I'm sick of people thinking they get a pass on being an a$$hole based on how many pigment cells they have in their skin.

[easyeja]

Hommie has issue's....never liked his performance in Grey's Anatomy. He should be grateful he had work!

[rhs648]

In the 1950's, people accused of being a communist, showing any interest in the communist movement, or subscribing to a communist newspaper were blacklisted and barred from employment in Hollywood or government. Is this so different from "political correctness" which cost people their jobs for making remarks about a person's race, religion, or sexual preference. Many lives were ruined in the 1950's. As despicable as these remarks may be, at one time they were protected by freedom of speech, another right that Americans are losing.

[rhs648]

This is the danger of "political correctness." If a person makes disparaging remarks about another person's race or sexual preference, he or she is punished. I wonder if we can blame President Bush for this, too? No, this came about under the Democrats.

[erasmus6]

Isaiah Washington was fired because he is an idiot.

[phil-in-fin]

Pathetic ...

Who would believe such a story?

The way he is talking, Isaiah Washington sounds like the real racist here ...

[tmn]

Seems like Isaiah is trying to tap dance his way out of this one. It won't work. HE'S the bigot in this story, no one else.