Lisa O'Connor/ZUMApress.com4:42 p.m. Update: The plot thickens further...Under increasingly intense fire for his behavior on set and on camera backstage at the Golden Globe awards, Isaiah Washington just issued a public apology. Read on for his official statement, ABC/Touchstone's official comment and the original item about T.R. Knight's appearance on Ellen, where he first weighed in on the controversy.
"I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance. By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on Grey's Anatomy. I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help.
"I know the power of words, especially those that demean. I realize that by using one filled with disrespect I have hurt more than T.R. and my colleagues. With one word, I've hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted. I welcome the chance to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I've opened.
"T.R.'s courage throughout this entire episode speaks to his tremendous character. I hold his talent, and T.R. as a person, in high esteem. I know a mere apology will not end this, and I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity."
2:45 p.m. Update: ABC/Touchstone has just issued a statement regarding Isaiah Washington's actions backstage at the Golden Globes (when he said, in front of a room full of reporters, he did not call T.R. Knight a "faggot"). Here it is:
"We have a long-standing policy to create and maintain respectful workplaces for all our employees. We dealt with the original situation in October, and thought the issue resolved. Therefore, we are greatly dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, language that he himself deemed 'unfortunate' in his previous public apology. We take this situation very seriously. His actions are unacceptable and are being addressed."
Kudos to ABC for stepping in and voicing their discontent with this situation. As for what action will be taken regarding Isaiah, I think the results from the poll on the main page of this section speak loud and clear: Only 19 percent of voters believe Isaiah should stay on the show. ABC, I hope you're listening.
Personally, I'm really hoping for my third option in that poll—that they make the character of Preston Burke gay and give him lots and lots of steamy and salacious same-sex love scenes, plus maybe have Burke go through an extremely painful coming-out process that lasts multiple seasons, just for good measure. But honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Isaiah is not under ABC's employ much longer.
2:39 p.m. Update: There seems to be some confusion about what exactly happened in the press room backstage at the Golden Globes. If you want to see exactly what Isaiah said and Shonda said, please go to https://www.hfpa.org/ and click on video gallery, then Grey's Anatomy.
Also, GLAAD has now issued a statement asking for an apology from Isaiah Washington, saying, "Washington's repeated use of [the word 'faggot'] on set and in the media is simply inexcusable."
Now, here's the original item I posted yesterday...
Wow. I read the transcripts of the interview with T.R. Knight that will air on Ellen today...and my heart aches. The man we know and love as George on Grey's Anatomy is coming out to say Isaiah Washington did call him a "faggot" during that on-set scuffle back in October.
In case you haven't yet seen what T.R. said to Ellen, here's a sampling of the transcript:
Ellen: So, Patrick Dempsey and Isaiah Washington are on the set. A scene is about to start, and they start getting in a fight, and words—
Not because I was late.
And Isaiah Washington says what to Patrick Dempsey?
He referred to me as a faggot.
As a faggot?
Yes.
So, you're around the corner and hear this?
[Joking.] It's an awesome word, isn't it?
It is. It really is unbelievable. It's bad enough in schoolyards that happens, but grown men—
Everyone heard it.
He said this horrible, hateful word, and it puts you in this position, because you weren't out, and then everyone on the set is hearing this and then you—
I was under no delusions. My friends on the set knew. We talked about it. They knew. I was not under any delusion that they didn't know, but I think publicly it's not my thing to, like, call up People magazine and be like, "Hey, you want to know something about me?" I've never been called it, and you know you go through things in life, and you lose friends when you go through the process—whatever your journey is, but I've never been called that to my face.
And then the other night at the Golden Globes, I guess Isaiah Washington starting up the whole thing up again, which is kind of crazy.
Yeah, he denied that he said it [faggot]. I don't know what to say, really, about that.
As I've said before, I have nothing but the utmost respect for T.R. Knight and how he has handled this entire issue. Not once has he stooped to the level of the incident around which this whole thing sprouted. And after reading this interview, I just want to say I love him all the more.
Obviously, there's going to be quite a bit of outrage (more than we've seen) once word spreads about T.R.'s interview on Ellen, and obviously, Grey's boss Shonda Rhimes has quite a serious situation on her hands.
Should Isaiah stay on Grey's Anatomy? That is the question of the moment. And because you, my faithful tubers, are some of the greatest Grey's fans I know (not to mention usually level-headed!), I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Feel free to comment away below—or weigh in on the sidebar poll in the main section.