Isaiah Washington apparently missed the memo on exactly what tone one should adopt on their celebrity tour of contrition—and when one is in danger of overstaying his welcome on the circuit.
As it is, the fired Grey's Anatomy star is still talking about his unceremonial ousting last month, this time via an appearance on Larry King Live.
In his first television interview since being given the boot, ostensibly for uttering a homophobic slur on set last October and again in the press room of the Golden Globes earlier this year, Washington again attempted to clear his name by explaining the circumstances surrounding his use of the word "faggot." The actor says he used the word during a blowup with Patrick Dempsey and denied that it was directed toward costar T.R. Knight, claiming he was using the word in reference to his own feelings at the time.
Washington said that it was Dempsey's repeated tardiness to the set that sparked the war of words, explaining that the tension had begun building prior to the October dustup.
While on location in Seattle in September, Washington claims that Dempsey showed up three hours late to the shoot and because of the delay, messed up the day's production schedule. While Washington didn't say anything at the time, he told King he was "embarrassed" by the incident and that it kept "gnawing" at him.
Cut to Oct. 9, when the cast and crew was reassembled in their Los Angeles studios, and Dempsey was again 15 minutes late to the set.
"He's late," Washington said. "And I'm thinking, Not again, because what happens on the road stays on the road.
"I'm mad. I'm getting upset and I'm feeling like, I didn't say anything then, so what am I going to say now?"
When Dempsey did show up, Washington said, the McDreamy star not only denied that he was tardy, but claimed he was "never late." He also then insisted they wait on costar Ellen Pompeo, who would not appear in the scene but was meant to be heard off-camera, before starting the scene.
"I need Ellen," Dempsey said, per Washington.
"Well, I don't need Ellen," Washington said. "I can act."
Reiterating the turn of events to King, Washington pinpointed that comment, his implication that Dempsey couldn't act, as the beginning of his end.
"Now that was the moment that sent it into a different zone," Washington said. "He became unhinged, face-to-face, spittle to spittle, in my face—first. I did not start it. And I'm asking him, why is he screaming at me, why are we doing this? Get out of my face. Several times. Several times. And he just becomes irate."
Washington said he then pushed Dempsey away and began to say "a lot of things I'm not really proud of, but all referring to myself and how I felt I was being treated."
"I said there's no way you're going to treat me like a B-word or a P-word or the F-word. You can't treat me this way in front of our crew."
As for whether the comment was in any way intended or directed toward Knight, Washington replied, "Never, never, never, never."
In fact, per Washington, Knight was not even in the room at the time, contrary to Knight's confession on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Washington said that up until his firing last month, Touchstone, which produces Grey's Anatomy had him under a gag order and that is why he's only now—and fairly frequently—speaking out.
As for how the purportedly isolated on set incident led to his public downfall, Washington said, "That's the $5 million question for a lot of people, how did it become that way. I have my ideas. But none of them are good."
The day after the fight, reports that an altercation had transpired between Knight and Washington made the tabloid rounds, painting Dempsey as the one who "came in with the white hat and tried to defend T.R."
Washington said that his and Dempsey's "wounds were healing" within days of the rift and that they had been "moving in a wonderful direction" when Knight came out of the closet and later appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, in which he specifically claimed Washington "referred to me as a faggot."
"That's a lie," Washington said. "He misrepresented himself."
As for what his motivation might have been, Washington said, "He has been very disappointed at playing the character he's been playing. He told me that.
"He was very unhappy at the time. He may be happy now because he's got a really nice bump and he's still on the show. And god bless him. I wish him well."
In the wake of the uproar over the incident, or at least the reported version of the incident, Washington said he attempted to resign from the show twice, both times unsuccessfully, in order to keep the incident from turning into a race issue or hurting the show. He said both times his request to resign was denied and that on the second time, a "four-point plan" of conduct was put into place, including Washington's forced stint in "executive counseling," widely reported as rehab.
"I said I wanted to go and they recommended that it be called executive counseling so I can find out certain things about myself."
Of his experience, Washington said it was difficult since he was being isolated from his family at the height of the media scrutiny and that while they were being bombarded with press calls, he was "sitting in a room doing yoga and Tai Chi."
"They sent one guy who was clearly gay to be there in the house with me I guess to see if I'd respond to him negatively. And he ended up bringing me some really interesting horror films. I mean, I love everybody."
Including some of his former costars.
Of creator Shonda Rhimes, who called him with the news that his contract would not be renewed, he said she was "very, very upset" about ABC's handling of the incident, putting out an apology after the Golden Globes.
"It all looked like I was lying for using the word on Oct. 9, which I never denied. I used it and I take ownership of that but it was never to refer to T.R. Knight," he said.
Washington added that he received a "wonderful email" from Sandra Oh, that Kate Walsh is "just fantastic" and that while he hasn't spoken with Dempsey since the season wrapped, the actor did offer some kind words on their last day together, saying, "if anyone is going to be fired, it should have been anyone else."
As for Knight, Washington said he believes the actions of his former costar "should have been addressed."
Of the cast members Washington has not heard from, he says he bears them no ill will.
"Disney was paying their bills, you know? You don't mess with the mouse, you know. And I respect that."
"There's something happening in our society that people are less tolerant of things that probably would have been tolerated not just 50 years ago, but six months ago. And it's something that's very indicative of maybe the leadership of our nation. There's a lot of people agitated and intolerant. And I think this is the manifestation all around."
As of what he's learned from the media mess, Washington said, "In time of great stress and duress, just keep your mouth shut. Keep your mouth shut."