Isaiah Washington's Exit is Confirmed
June 8, 2007
It’s official! After many speculations over Isaiah Washington’s possible departure on Grey’s Anatomy due to the massive cliffhanger of its third season finale, which aired on May 17,2007, ABC and Washington’s representative finally confirmed the 43-year old actor’s exit from the popular medical drama.
Howard Bragman, Washington’s publicist, released a statement from the actor, which said, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more." This was referenced from a 1967 film entitled Network. Grey’s Anatomy’s cast was informed Thursday night of the Washington’s final decision.
According to an ABC Studios spokesperson, Washington’s contract option was not picked up but declined to disclose further details about the actor not being invited back on the show.
Washington’s previous gay slur incident involving T.R. Knight roused outrage from the network, gay rights groups and other Grey’s Anatomy cast members like Katherine Heigl. The unfortunate incident eventually prompted him to make an apology, seek treatment in a rehab and get involved with gay rights groups in releasing a public service announcement.
Despite the impact of his gay slur to the show, an insider believed that the decision to exclude Washington was only partially due to the homophobic incident. "There was a pattern of problematic behavior going back before he used the F-word," the insider said. "I imagine [his dismissal] was the result of all of that."
Grey’s Anatomy’s season three finale left fans hanging as it featured Washington’s character, Burke leaving Cristina (Sandra Oh) at the alter and moving out of their apartment. Additionally, Burke wasn’t the only character in question for return on the show. Knight’s character, Dr. O'Malley also left a cliffhanger as he emptied out his locker at Seattle Grace since he failed the end-of-year intern test. However unlike Dr. Burke, Dr. O'Malley had been confirmed to return on the show.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: People, TV Guide
'Grey's' Isaiah Washington Won't Be Back
Star's Contract Not Being Renewed
June 7, 2007
"Grey's Anatomy" will not be renewing the contract of troubled actor Isaiah Washington, ABC News has learned.
The move was confirmed by two sources with knowledge of the situation, one of whom said, "It was a difficult year and this should come as no surprise to anyone."
Officials at ABC Television Studio, which produces "Grey's Anatomy," declined comment.
Even as Washington's star rose with the hit show he starred in, he faced allegations that he used an anti-gay slur to refer to "Grey's" co-star T.R. Knight.
He initially denied reports he used the slur, and raised eyebrows with a public statement at the Golden Globe awards.
"No, I did not call him a f--t," Washington said in front of reporters.
Knight appeared on the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," saying that he was shocked by Washington's denial.
On "Access Hollywood," another "Grey's Anatomy" co-star, Katherine Heigl, said: "He [Washington] just needs to stop talking."
Earlier this year, Washington admitted using the slur, apologized and said he planned to meet with gay rights groups.
He then said he would check into a treatment center for psychological evaluation.
"I have begun counseling," Washington said. "I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again."
'Greys' Says Goodbye to Isaiah Washington
ABC Studios will not renew the embattled ''Grey's Anatomy'' star's contract after a tumultuous year for him both on and off the set
Isaiah Washington — the embattled Grey's Anatomy star who used an antigay slur to address a coworker last fall — will not return to ABC's No. 1 drama when it returns for a fourth season next September, according to a source close to the situation. The source says ABC Studios declined to renew the actor's option to play the character Preston Burke after the actor invited an ugly wave of press this season because of his behavior both on and off the set. The source adds that the studio?s decision was likely based on a pattern of suspicious behavior by Washington that, according to press reports, goes back as far as 1997 on the set of the TV show High Incident.
A spokesperson for ABC Studios confirms that it has not picked up Washington's option for fall. An EW reporter caught up with Washington late Thursday (June 7) at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood, but the actor declined repeated requests to comment about the studio's decision to drop him other than to refer calls to his publicist. Washington's publicist confirms that the actor received a call on Thursday telling him he was not invited back to the show next season. He says Washington's statement on the matter is: ''I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more.''
Last fall, Washington was accused of calling fellow actor T.R. Knight a ''faggot'' during an on-set bruhaha. He repeated the slur at the Golden Globes in January. Within days of the incident becoming public, Knight announced he was gay.
The ordeal enraged coworkers, though some of have since forgiven Washington, who won an NAACP Image Award last March for best actor in a drama series. Katherine Heigl told EW this month that while she was ''furious and frustrated'' by Washington's behavior at the Globes, she later accepted his apology. ''Isaiah thanked me, which I didn't understand,'' she said. ''He was almost grateful. I don't know Isaiah well, but he takes his work seriously and he loves his character. He made a big mistake, and it was thoughtless and boneheaded, and I think he's very sorry and embarrassed. This is something that will have changed the scope of his life.''
Meanwhile, Washington taped a public service announcement for GLAAD, saying that ''words have power,'' which aired during a repeat of Grey's in May.
Washington's character appeared to flee Seattle Grace in the May 17 season finale of Grey's. Given the situation, it's unlikely that he will return even for a brief appearance next season. All the other key stars — including Knight, whose character flunked his intern exam and was questioning whether to repeat the year — will be back. Developing....