Let me start by saying I never have watched a full episode of Grey’s Anatomy. But after reading story after story about Isaiah Washington–since his caustic and public feud with homosexual castmate Patrick Dempsey last November, to his use of the f-word in describing Dempsey at the Golden Globes, to his non-stop “public statements” released in the wake of his firing from the ABC medical drama–I thought I had heard just about enough, and I wasn’t really paying that much attention to begin with.
For anyone who still wondered if Washington was the victim in all this, you need look no further than the above statement. This is the sort of mealy-mouthed, self-righteous claptrap you usually find from folks who are genuinely amazed when they learn that others don’t think they’re God’s gift to the world. Perhaps, Isaiah, people were afraid of you around the studio not because you weren’t Uncle Tom, but because, you know, you’re a raving lunatic?
Yes, I’m sure if he were reading this, his paranoia would lump me in with the rest of the racists who are so obviously sabotaging his career. It is certainly racist to ridicule a man because he is black, but is it racist to ridicule a black man because he’s a braying jackass?
Just a note: the slur was used against castmate T.R. Knight, who came out after the whole thing hit the press. Patrick Dempsey, who defended T.R. Knight on the set, is currently married to Jill Fink and has three children.
Carry on. (And I’ll miss Burke, but God, I’m glad Isaiah Washington’s gone. What an utter piece of crap. :mad: )
The fact is, if he hadn’t called the guy a faggot, he’d still be on the show. Period. That other stuff could theoretically be a reason for a racist member of cast or crew not to like him personally, but to claim it played a part in his dismissal is ridiculous, and a crutch for those who don’t want to take responsibility for their actions or comments. He knows his big mouth fucked him out of millions, and can’t face the fact its his own fault, so its gotta be the man’s fault. What a dick.
It would be hilarious if he weren’t completely serious. It reads like the kind of wild, race-baiting overreaction that a black character might give to Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” in response to some innocuous comment he’d made. Only on that show it would be played for laughs.
The guy’s obviously pissed off, knows he fucked up, and is falling back on the one ace-in-the-hole rationale he has left (racist conspiracy), rather than face his own brainlessness.
The best part is now Isaiah is caliming TR Knight orchestrated the entire thing, playing victim for the media in a attempt to get a raise, more substantial storylines, and get both Isaiah and Patrick Dempsey fired. And that all the castmates agreed with him (Isaiah) and are secretly scared of TR Knight.
This is the sort of after-the-fact reaction that can only make the produces think, “Wow! Did we make the right decision there or what??” followed by much high-fiving and brow-mopping that he’s gone.
The problem with being an asshole after you’re fired is that it makes the firing seem like an act of pure genius. Better to be gracious and move on with class, while privately thinking, that’s right: I’m awesome and you lost me, so suck on that.
Isaiah Washington should join the Dope. His increasingly bizarre and irrational statements - in the wake of an initial offense that was bad but hardly unforgivable - remind me very much of a SDMB poster meltdown.
The crazy thing is that he’s mouthing himself out of a career here. What other movie or TV director would possibly throw himself into a project with this dipshit now?
Let me say this, before the thread gets overlong and someone else beats me to it: Al Sharpton is a race baiter.*
Seriously, it’s about time someone not only suffered the consequences of their bigotry (which they are as free as they want to be to express privately), but, in the sense he assumed he’d be aided and abetted by those around him that turned out to be conscientious and progressive when he fucked, he got called on it, to the tune of millions.
It’s more apparent how bad he screwed up after reviewing his credits. Sure he’s worked steadily for a while, but the closet thing to a gig like Grey’s Anatomy is well…hard to say- his role in Romeo Must Die? Wild Things 2? Trois 3?
First, of all his problem wasn’t just his use of that word during the disagreement on set, but repeating it in front of the cameras at the Golden Globe awards. And then he claims that he was fired due to racism on the part of the studio. I find that hard to believe when the show’s creator and producer, Shonda Rimes, is herself a black woman.
It seems to me that Washington fucked up, slurring his castmate (Knight) and getting into a fight with Dempsey over it. The producers called him in and said, “make nice, or you’re out.” He made nice. He made a little Public Service Announcement about tolerance and all that.
Then they wrote him out at the end of the season.
It seems to me that, in Washington’s mind, he did what they asked him to do - he jumped through all their hoops - and they still ditched him. And that’s why he’s so angry and belligerent. That’s not at all to diminish what he did wrong, or rationalize it away, or say, “it’s the producer’s / TR / Shonda Rhimes’ fault.” Just to say, without condoning his actions or statements, that I can understand why he’s so angry.
