That Idiot On Grey's Anatomy

[Gail Simone]

Okay, I haven't seen the show.

But how much GALL does it take for this idiot to take up their awards moment with, "I didn't call T.R. Knight (or whatever his name is) a faggot,"

and THEN go on talk shows and swear up and down he never said it,"I could never, EVER say anything that low to another human being. The idea makes me sick!"

THEN the next day apologize for doing exactly what he swore up and down he'd never do?

KICK HIS ASS AND SEND HIM HOME, the creep!

Gail

[Typo Lad]

I don't watch the show, but in all honesty, I have to wonder if the show is keeping this chap around just for the publicity from the poo-storm.

[tetragene]

No, I think the only reason he's really been kept so far (and will probably still be kept) is primarily because of the show's creator, who he's supposedly good friends with. When this situation first broke out about him choking Patrick Dempsey and calling T.R. Knight a faggot there was talk that he may be fired and replaced by a black actor (can't remember his name) from another medical show. The show's creator (Shonda Rhimes) dismissed the fight and slur as the media creating nonsense rumors and then said she was very disturbed by the fact that people thought a black actor was so interchangable. Then at the awards ceremony when Isaiah 'dumbass' Washington says his infamous line she just chuckles. I think she's handled it poorly in the first place by being so defensive about him and turning the situation into a race matter (I mean if the character is established as a black male then naturally a black male would continue to play the character were their cast changes). I personally found it disturbing that she didn't find the slur disturbing (and has never even addressed it) but did find Isaiah replacement rumors offensive :rolleyes:

T.R. Knight was on Ellen after the Globes and confirmed that Isaiah did use the slur back when the fight between Washington and Dempsey broke out (and Knight said that the fight was not because he was late to the set--he was on time). Knight said he was extremely confused about Washington's denials because the whole cast heard him call Knight the slur the first time around. A lot of people have been complaining about the coverage its getting and saying that since it's just a word no one should be offended or held accountable. Which to me is bullshit because when the slur/fight originally happened there was very little coverage at all, especially compared to the Michael Richards and Mel Gibson tirades--not to mention that no one seemed to consider the slurs in those cases "just words." The entire situation reeks of double standards to me.

Personally, I hope he's fired--everytime I see him on the tv screen I want to throw something at it. Physical assaults and derrogatory slurs have no place in the work environment.

[AaronJ]

Ah yes, the classic: What happened isn't offenisve! It's your reaction that's offensive!

Golly, I never tire of that one.

[Cam63]

Washington does come across as a prize dick throughout the whole incident and things will be tense on set for a while, no doubt.

If he is genuine about his apology and the others accept it, OK.

If he reoffends, he should get the chop.

[MrSuslov]

The unasked question is, "Who cares?" Grey's Anatomy will survive, or not, regardless of this. I don't watch the program and it exists outside of my entire world. I'm just distinctly confused as to why this incident matters, or why I should take note of it.

Advice appreciated.

[heystacy]

I have a friend who loves the show. I saw one episode. It was ok.

As far as Isaiah Washington's comment goes, it disgusting, and unprofessional. He can't apologize enough. What he said is more than mere words, and hateful/negative commets stay in your psyche forever. Why should anyone come to work and have hateful slurs thrown at them repeatedly, and feel good about going to work? Washington's actions distract from the show, and at some level, if left unchecked, will be considered acceptable. This would make me not give the show a second look.

I hate the fact that he denied his usage for the f-word, then later admitted he was wrong for using it. I don't know how ABC is going to handle this, but a resolution from them would be a great start.

[tetragene]

Well, I watch the show, but I think I'd be interested in the matter regardless. In normal work situations you cannot go around physically assaulting your co-workers or hurling slurs at them. I don't think Hollywood should be any different. Although probably my biggest beef with this is the double standards. Had he physically assaulted a female co-worker or someone directed a racial slur at him then there wouldn't be anything to discuss--he or the other person would have been fired, no doubt. How is this situation, as is, any different?

Many people in defense of Washington's actions say that "faggot" doesn't have the same sting that a racial slur, such as the n-word, has and therefore shouldn't be considered offensive or derrogatory. But I mean...how many gay teens and adults have had "faggot" spat at them while they were getting the living tar beat out of them? How can that word NOT be considered very offensive? I know some gay people don't mind it, but me personally--it has this very weird affect on me. I've never had anyone call me that to my face, but just hearing the word in reference to someone else sends daggers down my spine.

[AaronJ]

The unasked question is, "Who cares?" Grey's Anatomy will survive, or not, regardless of this. I don't watch the program and it exists outside of my entire world. I'm just distinctly confused as to why this incident matters, or why I should take note of it.

Advice appreciated.

Well, I have never seen the show, and I didn't know about any of this until Gail posted here this morning.

To me, I don't know if it *matters*, in the sense of Darfur mattering; but I find it really irritating when people behave this way. At least when adults act this way.

[kingdom2000]

He is an idiot for the denial but don't forget that it was the press that brought up that issue right off the bat. The "story" had died and between their behavior and his, it was revived. This is a non-news issue that is the business of the employees of ABC and no one else's and if this hadn't made national news I am betting most people, including those on the set, wouldn't have care very long after the event had occured. This is a classic example of the press creating the news rather then reporting it and the mindless drones of the average american are eating it up. The same average drones who for the last two election cycles happily and with much joy passed laws that have made it clear what they really think of gays and the word "faggot" is a mild version of that.

Frankly I wouldn't mind knowing when "faggot" became the equilvilant of the n-word (cause lthat is how the media is treating it), cause until this "news" practically became a cover story nationwide this is the first I heard it had become a dirty word. Since "f-word" is taken up already, exactly how do you refer to the evil that is the word faggot without actually using the word faggot?

[MrSuslov]

Perhaps F2?

[Sharpandpointies]

Many people in defense of Washington's actions say that "faggot" doesn't have the same sting that a racial slur, such as the n-word, has and therefore shouldn't be considered offensive or derrogatory. But I mean...how many gay teens and adults have had "faggot" spat at them while they were getting the living tar beat out of them? How can that word NOT be considered very offensive?

I second this. I'm not gay, but jeez. It's not a term of endearment. Shouldn't be considered offensive when it's deliberately used to hurt? I don't think so.

It's a slur. It's a cut at someone, identifying them as part of a group that the speaker somehow considers less than human enough that he can define them (again, as a group) in an offensive way.

[Drink]

Not condoning it, but I think from what I heard, he was going for a joke that backfired horrendously on him. Saying stuff like that might be alright if you were at, say, a Friar's club celebrity roast, where people expect insulting things and are in the right mindset, but the Golden Globes is not one such place, needless to say.

While my opinion on homosexuality can admittedly vary at times, I wouldn't call a gay person a 'Faggot' anymore than I would call a black person the N word. If for no other reason than to just avoid shitstorms like Washington is getting now. But even then, I can't spout off a hateful meaning like that.

Between that and Kramer's freakout and Mel Gibson's too, Hollywood's got some racial issues to deal with.

[Mike Cross]

I'm not condoning anything any of these big stars and better people than me say, but I just like the fact that calling a person a faggot is worse than calling a female cop sugartits. Mel Gibson may be anti-semetic, but that sugartits line makes me smile everytime i hear it.

[LuchadorAl]

the whole denial was absurd. it was total, don't throw me in the briar patch.

one question i had though, does anybody know the context and exact comment?

al

[shrike]

If it were the 'N" word, heads would be rolling.

This man is a liar and obviously has no tact or class and needs his ass fired.

[titanfan]

one question i had though, does anybody know the context and exact comment?

The second time (his denial) was at a public press conference after Grey's won the Golden Globe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nZyCxZa1ik

As a co-worker told me, if IW was on LOST, his character's death (pointless) scene would have death scene would have already been re-written.

While the actor is talented, the Preston Burke character really isn't important to the show at all, it would be fairly easy for them to write him out and few people would care. He and the Producer are very close, which is one speculation as to why he wasn't written out the first time.

[LuchadorAl]

yeah . . . i saw him jump the mike and say, "i didn't . . ."

but what was the original comment that got him in trouble. what was the context. . . anybody know?
al

[tetragene]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIYiT0tpzpE

the way he so vehemently denies it ("I would never do something so vile"), only to get faced by Knight's "Ellen" appearance and have to end up issuing an "apology" is pretty hillarious.

[Jack Zodiac]

I don't watch the show, but in all honesty, I have to wonder if the show is keeping this chap around just for the publicity from the poo-storm.

Eh, I doubt it. I never watched "Grey's Anatomy," especially when someone told me it was like "E.R." but with more sex. Sounded like shit. And the last thing I'm thinking during all of these machinegun fire tabloid bursts about the two of them is, "hey, he called that guy a faggot, I should check out their show." I know people say that bad publicity's better than no publicity, but when your publicity is that one of your star actors is an intolerant bigot, you might wanna' start drawing a line, y'know?

[LuchadorAl]

stole this from bendis's board:
Breaking! Washington's Grey's Days May Be Numbered

Jan. 22, 2007 5:15 PM

Isaiah Washington may be on his way out.

I just received word from a highly place source within the Touchstone/ABC family that ABC and Disney executives are currently considering the option of firing Isaiah Washington from Grey's Anatomy, effective immediately, without having him appear in any kind of farewell episode.

According to this reliable source, if the network does follow through with this option, the producers are likely to run a full-screen announcement at the beginning of the first Burke-less episode that announces that Isaiah Washington is no longer part of the show.

I'm also told by various sources that the loss of Preston Burke is not an easy task for Grey's writing staff to deal with, given that he has a major storyline (including a life-changing event) coming in the next few episodes that will air during February sweeps. Those episodes have already been shot.


http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristi...6-2c4c6d6cfd14

[bert]

I hope he's gone.

the show lost some respect for keeping him employed after the initial name calling and his lack of apology to everyone offended by his use.

his "joke' at the Golden Globes? eh. . he was trying to kid, and anyone who watched the footage can pretty much acknowlege that.

but when he went on denying he ever said it, AFTER several cast-mates contradicted him?

I lost all respect for the man. He's going to hurt the show, and his bad karma is going to rub off on Sandra Oh (a great actress).

it's not a term of endearment, and to me (as a gay man), it's just as bad as the N-word being yelled at a black person.