Ex-'Grey's' star: Racism a factor in axing

[LostinVA]

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington said racism was a factor in his firing from the hit ABC series after he twice used an anti-gay slur.

Washington, who initially used the epithet during an onset clash with a co-star, told Newsweek magazine that "someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me."

<snip>

"My mistake was believing that I would get the support from my network and all of my cast mates across the board. My mistake was believing I could correct a wrong with honesty and sincerity," he said in the interview posted online Thursday. "My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts," he said. His unwillingness to act like a submissive black at work was part of the problem, Washington said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/29/people.isaiahw...



****************************************************************

I really wish he wouldn't do this. It cheapens attempts at promoting tolerance for both gays and blacks, imo. And, it also tries to drive an unneeded wedge between the GLBT and African American communities. He screwed up. He needs to accept that and move on.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Yuck

Dumb move on his part.

[Donnachaidh]

2. oh puhleeze!

Didn't this guy take anger management courses?

[Swede]

3. His mistake was using homophobic language.

Twice.

[emilyg]

51. His mouth got him fired.

[truebrit71]

4. I'm amazed it took this bigot this long to claim that...

:eyes:

[mondo joe]

5. He also said "They fired the wrong guy".

"They fired the wrong guy," the 43-year-old actor said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle.

He blames former cast mate T.R. Knight for stoking the scandal that led him to lose his role in the ABC hit. Knight is the one who should have been let go, he told the newspaper.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-et-washington21jun21,1,2175753.story?coll=la-celebrity-news


So now TR Knight is to be blamed for Washington using the word "faggot" and lying about it, and for TR Knight being forced out of the closet.

:eyes:

[LostinVA]

7. I'm surprised he didn't mention co-star Katherine Heigl

Who was very vocal, both on set, to the Network Execs, and publicly about how reprehensible she considered Washington's behavior.

[mondo joe]

9. She's probably next. Washington clearly can't accept responsibility

for his own behavior. Now it's Knight's fault. Heigl may be next.

[LostinVA]

28. It really made me respect her

Because, she's in an industry where rocking the boat like this is often a direct route to hearing, "Thank you. We'll call if we're interested."

[cui bono]

48. Yeah. He's lucky Knight isn't suing him for possible lost work

due to being outed. Not necessarily going to happen, but in that business it's very likely going to change/shape his career choices.

Until society's acceptance of homosexuality changes, and really, even after, it's up to the individual to decide if they want anyone to know. Unless, imho, they are hypocrites that are helping to create, influence and pass homophobic legislation, then they should be outed loud and clear.

[merh]

6. Isn't one of the key members of the production/writing staff

an African American female? Don't they have two African Americans as key cast members? He just can't accept his mistake and his homophobia. Of course, the African American culture is very very hard on gays.

The "down low" practices didn't evolve on a whim.

[AndreaCG]

11. I thought tthe CREATOR was an African American female

Could be wrong...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. No!!! Not wrong at all!!! I forgot that!!! Shonda Rhimes!!!!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

14. Actually, they had three Major cast members who are African American.

Dr. Richard Webber(James Picken's Jr.) who is the chief of surgery, Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) who is a resident surgeon and Washington, who played Burke, a heart surgeon. Dr. Richard Webber's wife also appeared in several episodes.

Then to throw in some more diversity, Sandra Oh and Sarah Ramirez.

[merh]

41. That is what I meant, in addition to him, they had two other key

characters that are African American. I love Bailey, she is the heart of the show.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

56. I love her too! She is fantastic in her role. I also love Sandra Oh. She is such

a consumate actress. A couple of days ago I saw an Indy film with her called Double Happiness. What a wonderful little film!

[originalpckelly]

8. And it had nothing to do with him calling someone else an f-word?

I've got another f-word for Isaiah: fuck you!

[LostinVA]

30. Saying it to reporters at the Emmys certainly wasn't a good career move

[blondeatlast]

10. In this culture, the oppressed need to band together. Is Mr. Washington even aware

of the SCOTUS ruling yesterday that effectively overturns Brown vs. BOE?

Women, gays, African-American, Latino/Hispanic, non-Christian white males--we are all facing the sword of the neoCon. We face a common enemy and the only way to defeat it is united.

I'm a lily-white blonde straight white female and the SCOTUS rulings from yesterday hit me like a punch to the stomach. You know, 'cause I buy stuff and my son is mixed race.

COMMON ENEMY. COMMON ENEMY. COMMON ENEMY. It's in Washington, and it goes far beyond our lame duck president. :mad:

[PassingFair]

12. How long until this jerk runs for office as a republican?

What else is there left for him to do?
Who else would want him?

[helderheid]

13. Bullshit. The producers of the show are very diverse.

[porphyrian]

15. While I think his argument is valid, I have no idea if it applies to him or not.

Almost none of the people voicing their opinions about it here know, either. It's a shame, because bigotry is still a real problem in America, and this story seems to be turning two of the classic targets of bigotry against each other.

[mondo joe]

16. I do know he used the word twice, lied about it and now says the gay guy shoud have been fired

instead.

[porphyrian]

21. Yeah, that sounds bad. But who here knows about his claims of racism?

Is he making it up because he's been attacked or is he right about it? Was there an increased level of racism after his anti-gay comments, even if it was only against him? I wasn't on set and I don't know anyone who was.

[mondo joe]

23. I don't know. I do know it's a pretty diverse cast, so if it's racism it

seems peculiar for it to target him only. And given his rather bizarre behavior, I think there's a good case for not renewing his contract.

I wouldn't want to work with him.

[porphyrian]

26. I agree with you there, and it's a shame. - n/t

[BlooInBloo]

34. Which would be an issue if either had any history of being supportive of the other.

[porphyrian]

47. It's an issue because it's so easily used as a distraction or a wedge issue.

I wasn't suggesting a love relationship between the regular targets of bigotry.

[slampoet]

18. "NEGRO PLEASE!!"

if you are going to be a Homophobe then stop being such a Pansy about it.

[devilgrrl]

19. "It cheapens attempts at promoting tolerance for both gays and blacks..."

Why do you think the story is being reported to begin with? To do just that.

Think about it.

[blondeatlast]

25. Exactly. nt

[LostinVA]

29. I know -- but it wouldn't have been reported if he didn't make the story

What a mess.

[devilgrrl]

31. It shouldn't be a story to begin with. Sibel Edmonds is a story that's being ignored but we get hear

about this dipshit.

[question everything]

20. Sad. Grey's Anatomy is the most diverse program there is

(at least, among the ones that I watch).

It has African Americans as chief of staff and as important, accomplished physicians and one does not even think about the color of their skins while watching, but only about the characters.

I thought that it was wrong to get rid of him.. although his story line did run out, at least in the season finale. I agreed with him about wondering how much should he apologize.

But this last comment is too sad.

I found him a good actor and I hope that other producers will use him and let him leave this sad story behind.

[Raine]

22. Bull shit

the guy is homophobic and THAT'S why he was fired.

[mondo joe]

24. Hey, he's just spreading love and humanity!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=17773

But Washington is pragmatic about the experience: "Maybe for 50 years and the history of media and television I represent something that's supposed to not exist.

"This happened to Malcolm X, this happened to Paul Robeson -- this misconception can happen to any man of power that loves himself and wants to spread that love and that humanity throughout the world."

[blondeatlast]

27. Nice to see he's so humble about it.

:eyes::puke:

[ClassWarfare2008]

55. He's comparing himself to Malcolm X now??

Will he be Dr. King next week? And Jesus the week after that??

Hey Isaiah.... why don't you try FRED PHELPS?? You seem to have a lot more in common with him.

[nonconformist]

32. Ugh. This guy needs to shut the fuck up already

Grey's Anatomy is probably the most diverse television show I've ever seen.

[LostinVA]

33. Exactly!

[LostinVA]

35. kick

[Bluebear]

36. "They were racist for firing me for calling someone a faggot!"

:crazy:

[LostinVA]

39. The perfect Cliffs' Notes version

[mondo joe]

40. "When they should have fired the guy I called a faggot for making me call him that!"

:nopity:

[BlooInBloo]

37. Black folks know perfectly well that if you give white folks ANY reason...

... then they're screwed, and nothing they say is worth a damn.

Isaiah *may* be right. But there's exactly ZERO chance of anyone in America even so much as listening. His fault, given how America actually is.

[LostinVA]

38. Even if the "white folks" boss is African American?

[BlooInBloo]

52. Yup. Even if.

[LostinVA]

53. Oh boy -- so, I guess his AA boss must be a racist

[BlooInBloo]

54. Nothing *I* said implied that.

[LostinVA]

57. Yeah, you heavily implied it

Apparently before knowing his boss was an African American woman.

You know, at many p
I;m done with this discussion with you. You can spin this all you want, but the only thing you'll get is dizzy.

[JerseygirlCT]

43. And you're making that assumption about him based on what?

Racism is still rampant in our culture, no doubt.

This guy found himself in hot water through his own actions and hate-filled words. When he's called on it, he cries "Racism!"

If you have any information to support his claim, other than his unwillingness to actually take responsibility for his own bigotry and actions, do tell.

Until then, I'll remain quite skeptical.

It's right up there with Paris finding God in jail.

[blondeatlast]

44. She's the Boss

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722274/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonda_Rhimes
http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117966167.html?nav=eproducer07

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

49. Bullshit - Why was he hired in the first place?

I guarantee you it wasn't his superior acting ability.

[JerseygirlCT]

42. I agree completey with you. This is a situation where he needs to

just take personal responsibility for his own problems -- the result of his own actions and words.

This isn't about racism. And to claim that for the results of his own decisions cheapens the cries of those who are REALLY dealing with racism.

I didn't think I could think less of the guy. Guess I was wrong.

[cgrindley]

45. He's an idiot

congratulations, Washington, you stupid assmunch, you just set equality back for everyone.

[devilgrrl]

46. What a big bunch of nothing! This is a diversion - plain and simple.

I can't people are falling for this shit! :thumbsdown:

[SoCalDem]

50. Great article from yesterday on this issue.. from the Independent

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1204312&mesg_id=1204312

[CTM1978]

58. I wonder if he strangled someone and called another person "faggot" while working at McDonald's.....

Would he be fired and get away with playing the fucking race card. This guy is a moron and should drink a tall glass of STFU.