And then came other news of on set troubles. With an ensemble cast that grew and expanded by leaps and bounds, screen time was always going to be an issue. Rumors abounded that Washington and Dempsey in particular had issues of this sort. Nobody was admitting anything however. And then came news that Washington, who bills himself as a perfectionist, was irked by TR Knight's (he plays everybody's favorite Bambi George O'Malley on the show) tardiness and had called/referred to him as a "faggot" prompting an on set fight with Dempsey.
Once again, everything and everybody locked down. Things dragged on for a couple of days and then Knight gave an interview to People that confirmed his sexuality as a gay man. Everyone wanted to know if his hand was forced by the Washington rumors but he wasn't talking any more than the rest of them.
Enter Ted Casablanca of The Awful Truth, a gossip columnist who was amongst the first to report on the Washington-Dempsey-Knight fiasco. At the Golden Globes last year, where GA was one of the big winners, Casablanca asked Rhimes in front of the assembled (and visibly uncomfortable) cast whether the rumors were true and all the above had indeed occurred. Before she could collect her wits, Washington leaned across, grabbed her mike and said, “I did not call TR a faggot!”
Pandemonium! He said it again! Okay, it was in the third person but he said it a-g-a-i-n!
Co-star Katherine Heigl (a.k.a. Izzie Stevens), who stars in this summer’s hit Knocked Up, came out in defense of Knight and essentially told Washington to shut it. Knight himself went on Ellen Degeneres’ show and laid it all on the line, including the information that Washington had indeed used the slur on set. Rhimes and ABC had very little to say. Washington went on to explain himself and his explanations made everything sound about a hundred times worse.
Coming as it did in the wake of the whole Mel Gibson on an anti-Semitic, misogynistic rant and the Michael Richards racist spiel, Washington made it a trifecta of Hollywood people who apparently had no idea that Jews, women, gays, and African Americans all play significant roles in their line of work, from producers to viewers.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
"McDreamy," seriously? That right there makes me glad I haven't bothered to watch the show. Shallow, I know.
2 - Jet in Columbus
On behalf of all Faggots everywhere, I say "Bravo!!!"
3 - Amrita
Phillip - it actually worked for the first truncated season. Then there was a Mc-mania and I couldnt stand it anymore.
Jet - haha!
4 - Donna A.
Never watched the show. It's a pity that this has tainted it.
Donna A.
5 - VICKIE G.
I FOR ONE AM SORRY TO SEE WASHINGTON GO FROM GREY'S ANATOMY. HE MADE A MISTAKE ATTONED FOR THAT MISTAKE AND WAS STILL PUNISHED IN THE END. HE'S HUMAN AND NOT WITHOUT HIS OWN FLAWS. BUT HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL BLACK PROFESSIONAL MAN PLAYING A DIFFICULT PART AND HE WAS GOOD. I TRULY WISH THE NETWORK WOULD RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION.
6 - Jewels
You're absolutely right how important a part of the show's dynamic the Dr. Burke character really has been, and now suddenly, he's gone. When the wedding scenario went the way it did during the finale, that was the point in which I figured then, he was gone, really gone. He made stupid mistakes, said stupid things that in Hollywood won't work - so now he's out of work.
7 - Amrita
Donna - it used to be really good. But with that sucky season finale, the culmination of a horrible season, and the departure of both Washington and Kate Walsh, I dont know if I'm all that excited about the upcoming 4th season. It's like they bought into their own hype a bit too much.
Vickie - Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen. People have been talking about his departure for way too long for this to have been a sudden decision or one easily changed.
Jewels - Actually, things arent that grim. He's not out of work, he's actually working on this indie movie he's producing or something. He even said he'd be willing to come back for a spot on the show if they wanted him - but it's not going to be the same and I dont know if they'd have him back. It's just sad all around.