Breaking News: Isaiah Washington Let Go from Grey’s Anatomy!
The speculation is over: After a controversial season, Isaiah Washington will not be returning to Grey’s Anatomy, his rep and ABC Television Studio have confirmed.
Howard Bragman, Washington’s publicist, says Washington’s option was not renewed, and released this statement from the actor: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more.”
Bragman did not elaborate on the statement, a reference to the 1976 film Network.
The cast was notified Thursday night of the final decision, which, says a source close to the situation, was a long time coming. In the end, the source says, Washington’s behavior made him a liability.
Rumors ran rampant following the season finale – during which Washington’s character, Dr. Preston Burke, broke up with his fiancée, Christina Yang (Sandra Oh), and moved out of their apartment – that Washington would not be returning.
The actor first came under fire last fall after getting into an altercation with Patrick Dempsey, during which he allegedly referred to castmate T.R. Knight with a homophobic slur.
Washington later apologized, checked into rehab, met with gay leaders and recently released a PSA decrying the use of hate speech.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:47 am
That sucks! Why do they have to mess with the show? It is bad enough that Kate Walsh already left.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:52 am
I think it’s sad that it took Grey’s producers this long to realize what they needed to do. If TR Knight had made a slur about Isaiah being black, he would have been fired immediately.
June 8th, 2007 at 11:45 am
I dont know if its because he made that remark…but he was losing his appeal. I stopped liking his character
June 8th, 2007 at 11:51 am
If they were going to fire him, they should have done so right after it happened and not such a long time later. You don’t play at giving someone a second chance. You don’t let them apologize, allow them to jump through all the right hoops in an attempt to make amends, and make them a large part of the reason your season finale got great ratings only to go back and punish them for the original offense. I’m no huge fan of his and I do believe what he did was terribly wrong, but they have handled this worse than he did. This coupled with the poor writing for 7 out of 10 characters the last half of the season and the whole spin off debacle just cements the loss of this viewer.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I hate what he said and I understand how wrong it is… but the Greys part of me is sad that he will not be returning. Hes a brilliant actor and it really sucks he won’t be on the show anymore. I did love him with Christina.
way to go Isaiah! ruin the show some more! Atleast T.R. is coming back! (knock on wood)
June 28th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
eat my ass isaiahhhhhhh
June 28th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
he sucks my asshole!!!!!!
June 28th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
eat my ass isaaiah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 29th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
He sucks ass. I wish he would go away. Maybe him ans Imus can be buddies now….hahahahahahhahahhahahahhahah eat my ass and enjoy it!!!!!!!!