For some reason, former-Grey’s-Anatomy-actor-turned-MAGA-supporter Isaiah Washington decided to remind everyone about the time he was fired from his job for allegedly using an antigay slur on set and outing his co-star to the world.
As you may or may not recall, in 2007, Washington was written off the hit ABC series following reports he called his co-star T.R. Knight a “f*g” on set. Knight was not publicly out at the time.
After the incident made headlines, Washington made things worse for himself when he repeated the slur while speaking to press at the 2007 Golden Globes.
Shortly thereafter, he was let go from his job.
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Washington eventually apologized and recorded a PSA with GLAAD, which aired during a Grey’s Anatomy re-run. Some people accepted his apology. Others did not. And eventually life moved on, though Washington’s career never recovered.
Cut to 13 years later…
Yesterday, the 57-year-old, now an outspoken Trump supporter with a cooking show on Fox Nation, randomly posted a picture of his former co-star Katherine Heigl, who spoke out against him over a decade ago.
“This woman once proclaimed that I should ‘never’ be allowed to speak publicly again,” he wrote. “The world agreed with her proclamation back then and protested for my job and my head in 65 languages.”
He added, “I wish I was on Twitter in 2007, because I will NEVER stop exercising my free speech.”
This woman once proclaimed that I should ‘never’ be allowed to speak publicly again. The world agreed with her proclamation back then and protested for my job and my head in 65 languages. I wish I was on Twitter in 2007, because I will NEVER stop exercising my free speech. pic.twitter.com/fQ6L1zfQRR
— The Tweet Sniper? (@IWashington) November 16, 2020
The incident he seems to be referring to happened in January 2007 when Heigl was asked by Access Hollywood about Washington’s alleged use of the antigay slur.
“I’m going to be really honest right now, he needs to just not speak in public,” she said. “Period. I’m sorry, that did not need to be said, I’m not OK with it.”
It’s unclear why Washington felt the need to dig up this old dirt when nearly everybody else in the world had either forgotten about it or moved on.
Heigl has not responded to the tweet; however, E! News reports:
While Katherine has yet to publicly address Isaiah’s post, a source close to the actress tells E! News she’s proud to have “stood up” for T.R. in 2007. “Katherine stood up for her close friend twice when Isaiah publicly outed him and called him a f*ggot. That’s hate talk, not free speech,” the source says. “She is proud that she stood up for him. Katherine is and always will be an advocate and ally to the LGBTQ community.”
cuteguy
This has been loser wants to try and stay relevant like Chachi and Kirstie Alley. They can’t accept that sometimes you fall out of the limelight bc fame is fickle. But then again they’re just following in the footsteps of a 74 yr old whiny man child.
Donston
Nobody on that set liked Isaiah. No one from the show defended him then or now. He got into a physical altercation with Patrick Dempsey. He verbally attacked TR and attempted to publicly out him. And never legit apologized or claimed he was not a problem on the set. I guess so many hating Katherine and flaunting his Trump support got him feeling more froggy. But if anything, he looks like an attention desperate buffoon(coon), randomly bringing up old shit for likes, re-tweets and a few articles.
WashDrySpin
Your coon comment is racist completely utterly racist…
ducdebrabant
I remember Washington’s defenders at the time trying to use the “white privilege” card to shield him.
Their target then was T. R. Knight himself. Knight had stayed out of it, even when he was continually dragged into it, but attacking him allowed the Washington camp not only to attack a “privileged white man” as the villain of the piece, but attack a gay one, drawing on a deep well of, not only black racism, but black homophobia, to benefit Washington.
Then the NAACP honored Washington (and by implication, DISHONORED every gay man in America), defying the principle that one oppressed minority should support any other. I always wondered how the gay members of the NAACP felt about that.
Before this incident occurred, I had always liked Washington. Even after it occurred, I could have called it a bad moment, and forgiven him.
But what he did on the Red Carpet was more than repeat the slur. He was pretending that he had ever made it. He thought Shonda Rhimes and her show had circled the wagons and would protect him.
But the incident DID happen, and though the show tried to sweep it under the rug, Washington was supposed never to refer to it again. When he DID refer to it again (to deny that the event took place) other cast members declined to play along.
All Washington had to do was keep his mouth shut (that is why Heigl said–NOT that he should be barred from speaking in public–but that he SHOULD NOT speak in public). He got drunk (that’s how he seemed to me) stirred the s**t, and brought it all up again. Then, after his firing, he spent the rest of his career resenting the whole thing and trying to stir up rancor against the other actors.
I’m not a fan of his anymore. And I’m not interested in any Whataboutism about white offenders, either. Nobody doubts that white men can be homophobic (every gay on earth knows better than that), but if every white man on earth were either a homophobe OR a racist (or both) it wouldn’t excuse Isaiah Washington.
Meanwhile, T. R. Knight, now out of the closet, goes about his career as quietly as ever, not raging or whining to anybody. He isn’t a big star, but he works. Washington should take a lesson.
Donston
Yeah, I’m black. We frequently refer to black people who are “sell outs” and/or attention whores as “coons”.
WashDrySpin
Donston…you are a self-hating black man…which still does not excuse your racism…but I am sure it endears you to your white gay friends
MCrisp
@ducdebrabant
“White Privilege”?
Jake123
Idiot.
WashDrySpin
yet Rainbow Randy who is a white gay man is embraced and forgiven for his repeated racism toward POC…
but Isaiah a POC verbally attacks/assaults a gay white man (once by all accounts probably more) is to be thrown away forever…
WOW white male privilege knows NO boundaries
Cam
Rainbow apologized quickly and admitted he was an ass. Isaiah Fought it, then grudgingly apologized and then repeated the slur backstage at the Golden Globes.
The fact that he is now a Trump supporter pretty much shows that his apology was B.S.
Jack Meoff
Rainbow Randy is a POS and certainly not forgiven by all, Talk about your no talent attention seekers.
Donston
Rainbow Randy is a social media thing, not a professional actor. There’s also a lot of people who don’t fxck with him (I never have) and a lot of people who don’t forgive him. While it’s much easier to “cancel” an actor who plays a supporting role on a show than to “cancel” a social media personality.
Washington’s career didn’t suffer simply because of one incident. He was known for consistently being difficult to work with and for being a bully. While he did find a bit of work after being kicked off of Grey’s Anatomy. White male privilege exist. But I don’t know if you’re trolling or if you really don’t do your research or if you’re really trying to compare shit that’s not comparable.
WashDrySpin
@Cam…he apologized when he got CAUGHT…not before…so I can utter B S and LIES on your statement…
but he is gay and white so he is alright….
WashDrySpin
@Donston…you are NOT the truth meter or the “decider” here online because you write such L O N G responses…settle down and realize your online presence should not be a measure of your paltry self-worth and identity
Cam
@WashDrySpin
And after Isaihah was caught, he didn’t apologize until forced to and then REPEATED the slur back stage at the Golden Globes and was BROUGHT BACK on Grey’s Anatomy in 2014.
So not only was he still saying the slur, but he then got brought back onto the how a few years later. So probably not accurate to paint him as so much more of a victim. His behavior was non-repentant until he was forced, and he still got back on the show.
trsxyz
Isaiah Washington got the career that he deserved.
Kangol2
Isaiah made his bed, and now he has to sleep in it.
I wonder if he’s making going to feature a MAGAt pity party menu on his FauxNation show?
inbama
Jack Meoff,
Randy Rainbow, a no talent?
Are you tone-deaf, illiterate or just self-loathing?
MCrisp
I’ve never heard of him before now so…he can’t be that talented. You’re obviously a racist defending another.