Ex-'Grey's' Star Cites Racism for Firing

[Hudson]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington said racism was a factor in his firing from the hit ABC series after he twice used an anti-gay slur.

Washington, who initially used the epithet during an onset clash with a co-star, told Newsweek magazine that "someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me."

He tried to make amends by expressing remorse and volunteering to enter a counseling program to understand how the confrontation got out of hand, he told Newsweek.

"My mistake was believing that I would get the support from my network and all of my cast mates across the board. My mistake was believing I could correct a wrong with honesty and sincerity," he said in the interview posted online Thursday.

"My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts," he said.

His unwillingness to act like a submissive black at work was part of the problem, Washington said.

"Well, it didn't help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn't a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn't speak like I'd just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime," he said.

"I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that `some people' were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I'm a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn't go around saying `Yessah, massa sir' and `No sir, massa' to everyone?

"It's nuts when your presence alone can just scare people, and that made me a prime candidate to take the heat in a dysfunctional family," he said.

ABC declined comment Thursday. In its one public statement regarding Washington, issued in January, the network said his actions were "unacceptable."

Washington, who used the slur against co-star T.R. Knight during a confrontation with Patrick Dempsey, repeated the word backstage at the Golden Globes in January in denying the first incident. A public apology to Knight and others followed.

http://news.aol.com/entertainment/story/_a/ex-greys-star-cites-racism-for-firing/n20070628230309990006
UGH Just UGH!

[mascan42]

"My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts," he said.
His mistake was thinking that anybody gets a second chance these days. Now he's fighting fire with fire, thinking that accusations of racism trumps accusations of homophobia. Too bad he waited five months to do it.

[wes mantooth]

Now he can hang out with Tubbs from Miami Vice.

Just another in a long line of uppity Hollywood jigs that let their minor fame go to their heads. Maybe you were fired because you were an asshole.

[WhiskeyWhispers]

How long are they going to keep milking this race card? Enough already. Black people can be racist, homophobic and misogynistic with the best of us, but when someone calls them out on it and they are fired or whatever, it's because they are black. GET OVER YOURSELVES.
Can't wait to read the inevitable 'run to the black guy's defense' posts, it's going to be interesting to see how one can possibly defend this bozo's crying.

[HummerTuesdays]

Washington, who initially used the epithet during an onset clash with a co-star, told Newsweek magazine that "someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me."

He tried to make amends by expressing remorse and volunteering to enter a counseling program to understand how the confrontation got out of hand, he told Newsweek

Hmmm...perhaps *that's* why people are afraid of him. I'd be afraid of any 6'1" guy that has a temper.

[flyerfan116]

What a douche...now I do not support his firing just because he called someone a faggot..i mean come on who hasn't done that or said that, but this guy is just insane...i wonder what he would be thinking if the tables were turned...if the homo called him a N***** on set would he be saying oh give him a second chance? hell no he'd be calling Rev. Al if the shitdick wasn't fired on the spot...fuckin hypocritical asshole

[fandango86]

Get the PAC on the case! I'll join up to boycott Grey's Anatomy. Not that I ever watched that faggot show, but I'll say I'll never watch it if it helps.

[Hudson]

And people wonder why I dislike them?

[Southtown]

I love how black people use racism to shift the attention off of them. So it goes from black employee gets fired for whatever good reason, to the employer having to defend themselves from racist allegations.


Oh and its so true what flyerfan said. If the fag called him a nagger, he wouldnt think twice about getting him fired and say how justified it was.

[ShiftyMH]

He should have said the homo called him a ****** once from the beginning. You dont get anything for apologies these days.

[SOS]

His storyline was going nowhere.

[Hudson]

His storyline was going nowhere.FA-AA-AA-AA-AAAAAA-G!!!!!!!!!:action-sm:action-sm

[Vyce]

How long are they going to keep milking this race card? Enough already. Black people can be racist, homophobic and misogynistic with the best of us, but when someone calls them out on it and they are fired or whatever, it's because they are black. GET OVER YOURSELVES.

No, dude, that's the whole issue about this Isaiah Washington case. It's the most recent example of what the new reality is in this country.

That reality is: sorry, knitters, you can't pull that fucking shit anymore like you used to.

20, 25 years ago, sure. Now? If a black guy is racist or homophobic or misogynistic, they ain't protected like they used to be. Want to call a gay guy a faggot? Hold on, negro, you're no longer immune.

(of course, black guys can still be as racist as they want to be to white, heterosexual males)

[bethm1b]

I blame the Jews.

[Hudson]

I blame the Jews.well they do run the media.

[jrsaint]

"I got fired cause a bunch of fags don't like black people"

[queeby]

Does their racism trump his homophobia? This fucking calls a gay guy a faggot and threatens him, and the people that are understandably nervous about the way he acted fire him, and THATS what makes them racist.

I think that the fact that he got to keep his job for so long after he did what he did shows the problem. The network was afraid to fire a black guy because they would be accused of being racist. If a white guy had done what he did they would have had no problem firing him in a second. It is kind the kind of racism only a real coward has.

[CommieAmerica]

I am not justifying what he said. He was wrong! But I have heard people in the media(e.g. Actors, Actresses, screenwriters, songwriters, ect.) say worse things. I just am a bit afraid of the future of America. What is this country coming to when your freedom of speech is being threatened? Soon we will see a communist America! If Mr. Washington could get fired for bigotry, what about those Rappers that call women, b*tches and H*s? and Calling their own N*ggers this and N*ggers that! Why are they still in business?!?! And why is it ok to degrade women in the media and be a chauvanist?!?! Or exploit women in the media? Why are they not fired? Why is Howard Stern still in business? Why is it ok for the media to flash my childrens' face with the gay lifestyle and call me intolerant or a bigot because I believe in family values??? Aren't they intolerant of me!?!?! Aren't they the true bigots? I believe everyone has the freedom to live their lifestyle as they choose! But don't bring it into my home(media). If you live a drugusing lifestyle, keep it to yourself, if you live a prostitute lifestyle, keep it to yourself, ect. This country is turning into a sad sight! When you could get fired for saying positive things like God, Jesus, Christ, prayer, ect. But negative words like saying B*tches and H*s, and N*ggers are praised and make you millions! Wake up people! The media has a double standard! Freedom of speech my b*tt.

[Sunsetspawn]

I am not... blah blah blah blah
Howard Stern.. blah blah blah
positive things like God, Jesus, Christ, prayer, ect... blah blah
The media has a double standard! Freedom of speech my b*tt.
Really Mr. One Post, did you get everything you needed to get off of your chest on a random board? Here's an idea the next time you do that, make more sense. I don't doubt that your rant sounded great in your head, but on my screen it looked exactly how I quoted it.

Why am I replying, you're gone, never to be heard from again, but whatever, I've already started.

Yes, freedom of speech is going away, and that's sad, boo hoo, but that's not exactly what this thread was about.

Howard Stern should go away based on the simple fact that he's not funny.

How about positive things like Zeus, Odin, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster? Oh, it's stupid to believe in those, but a hippy that rose from the dead and walked on water, that's brilliant.

[Creampier]

I am not justifying what he said. He was wrong! But I have heard people in the media(e.g. Actors, Actresses, screenwriters, songwriters, ect.) say worse things. I just am a bit afraid of the future of America. What is this country coming to when your freedom of speech is being threatened? Soon we will see a communist America! If Mr. Washington could get fired for bigotry, what about those Rappers that call women, b*tches and H*s? and Calling their own N*ggers this and N*ggers that! Why are they still in business?!?! And why is it ok to degrade women in the media and be a chauvanist?!?! Or exploit women in the media? Why are they not fired? Why is Howard Stern still in business? Why is it ok for the media to flash my childrens' face with the gay lifestyle and call me intolerant or a bigot because I believe in family values??? Aren't they intolerant of me!?!?! Aren't they the true bigots? I believe everyone has the freedom to live their lifestyle as they choose! But don't bring it into my home(media). If you live a drugusing lifestyle, keep it to yourself, if you live a prostitute lifestyle, keep it to yourself, ect. This country is turning into a sad sight! When you could get fired for saying positive things like God, Jesus, Christ, prayer, ect. But negative words like saying B*tches and H*s, and N*ggers are praised and make you millions! Wake up people! The media has a double standard! Freedom of speech my b*tt.

:martianvirus:


Had to get that in! Never saw a use for it until now!

[wes mantooth]

what about those Rappers that call women, b*tches and H*s? and Calling their own N*ggers this and N*ggers that! Why are they still in business?!?!


They'll be the last ones censored. They'll cry the loudest when it happens though. They're conditioned like that.



.