News > It's official. Isaiah Washington fired from Grey's!
June 7, 2007
Written by: Josh Karp
Via: TVGuide
Phew. For a minute there I thought that ABC was on track to commit an egregious moral error. Let mebe the first to admit that I was wrong. The network revealed today that the actor's contract option has not been renewed for next season's show. The turmoil began when reports surfaced that Washington, who plays Dr. Burke, had referred to cast mate T.R. Knight, who is gay, by making use of a bigoted slur. Isaiah, apparently feeling the heat from multiple press accounts, very publicly announced on national television that he had, in fact, not used the slur. The problem? He used "the word" in his apology. Whoops. A massive clean up effort ensued, culminating in Washington's Public Service Announcement that aired during prime-time on ABC. Seems like it might have been too little too late, however, as the top network brass saw fit to terminate his employment. Little further is known, but given his performance on the season finale, it's safe to say that the shows' writers won't have to work too hard to tie up the loose ends. I think it's fair to say that ABC did the right thing here, and should be applauded for its decision.
