Former Grey’s Anatomy star Isaiah Washington — who was axed from the show in 2007 after spewing a homophobic slur at T.R. Knight — is slamming the show for firing Brooke Smith.

“I looked at a brilliant actress, whom I have adored since I first saw her in Silence of the Lambs,” he says in the Nov. 17 issue of TV Guide. “For her to be treated this way, I find very interesting.”

Grey’s creator Shonda Rhimes released a statement last week insisting that “Brooke Smith was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian …. we did not find that the magic and chemistry with Brooke’s character would sustain in the long run.”

Regardless, Washington says the move was harsh.

“The fact is that, just before the holidays, you have a mother, a wonderful actress removed from a steady income without the proper reasoning behind it…” he says.

“You look at the way another consummate professional [is] being treated because her character, her story line [has] potentially made producers uncomfortable.”

He says Rhimes is getting the raw deal.

“Now that I see what they’re doing to a show that I love and I care about, I think it’s disgusting,” Washington continues. “The fact that Shonda has been put in this position is extremely unfair.

“It’s unfortunate because it was probably, at the time, the most progressive show on television,” he says. “Now I see it [being] systematically torn apart.”

How can the show be fixed?

“Bring Burke back!” Washington says.

So he would return to the show, despite all the drama? “Absolutely!”

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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.

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Controversial “Grey’s Anatomy” star Isaiah Washington has a new man in his life.

TMZ has exclusively learned that Washington signed with PR crisis expert Howard Bragman and his company, Fifteen Minutes. Bragman started Fifteen Minutes PR in 2005 after selling powerhouse PR firm Bragman Nyman Cafarelli.

Interestingly, Bragman is openly gay and is the man responsible for the wildly successful launch of out and gay NBA center John Amaechi’s best-selling book, “Man in the Middle,” which was the subject of a homophobic slur by NBA car wash owner Tim Hardaway.

A source say that Bragman is known for, “telling it like it is,” to his clients, and that Isaiah will be no exception. Bragman’s office confirmed that Washington is on board, and in a statement to TMZ said, “Our work with Isaiah is about his future — not the past. There is an important dialogue in our society about diversity that needs to happen, and Isaiah is uniquely positioned to be the catalyst for this.”

Isaiah Washington’s Grey’s Anatomy castmates are keeping their distance as the disgraced actor battles his demons in rehab.

The star was a no-show at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, where his castmates claimed a Best TV Ensemble, after checking into a treatment centre to address issues that reared up after he twice referred to gay co-star T.R. Knight as a “faggot”.

And while co-star Chandra Wilson offered her support to him during her Best Actress acceptance speech, other castmates weren’t quite so warm towards Washington.

Katherine Heigl, who suggested the actor shouldn’t be allowed to speak publicly after mentioning the ‘f’ word at a Golden Globe Awards backstage press conference earlier this month, was still chilly towards him.

Of his SAG Awards absence, she said, “As far as we know, he’s seeking treatment right now to help with some of his issues. We don’t know when he’ll be back, or for how long.”

After publicly apologising for his remarks, Washington checked into a residential treatment facility last week in a bid to keep his job on the medical drama, according to news reports in America.

Grey’s Anatomy’s Isaiah Washington, who said a week ago that he needs help to resolve issues “within my own soul” following his anti-gay remarks, is seeking counseling, he said in a statement Wednesday.

“With the support of my family and friends, I have begun counseling,” said Washington. “I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again. I appreciate the fact that I have been given this opportunity and I remain committed to transforming my negative actions into positive results, personally and professionally.”

The 43-year-old actor remains at the center of a firestorm of controversy after using a gay slur to refer to his costar T.R. Knight, who is gay.

Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy, said in a statement Wednesday: “We applaud and encourage Isaiah’s realization that he needs help and his subsequent choice to seek immediate treatment for his behavioral issues.”

Rhimes said all the parties involved were seeking to “address the issue in a way that underscores the gravity of the situation while giving us all a foundation for healing.”

Washington, who plays Dr. Preston Burke on the hit ABC show, first used the slur during an on-set argument in October, and then repeated the word at the Golden Globe awards this month. (Knight has said that the incident in October prompted him to come out.)

Last Thursday, Washington apologized, saying he could “no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I’ve asked for help.”

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