Isaiah Washington: Truly Angry, Contemplating Lawsuit
Isaiah Washington wasn't joking when - in response to being axed from Grey's Anatomy yesterday - he issued the Network-inspired statement: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore."
In an exclusive interview, the actor's spokesperson, Howard Bragman, told TV Guide that "Isaiah really is angry."
Particularly mystifying to the star is the timing of his ouster: months after he revived the F-word controversy by repeating the slur backstage at the Golden Globes.
"If they wanted to fire him," Bragman asks, "why didn't they fire him when [the incident] happened? Why did they say, 'Here's what you need to do if you want to come back⦠' and then, when he did everything that was asked of him, he still gets fired. Why do you treat somebody like that?
"If you made a mistake, you acknowledged the mistake, you went into counseling, you met with the groups, you did the PSA, you did everything that was asked of you, and then they still kick you in the gut? How would you feel?"
While Bragman says there was no formal agreement with ABC that if Washington did X, Y and Z he could keep his job, "there was a discussion and it was agreed upon that this is what needs to be done to come back, and he did everything...And, in fact, we were the ones that pushed for the PSA."
Although Bragman won't rule out Washington taking possible legal action against ABC, he adds, "It would be premature to speculate. We have time to discuss that."
(A rep for ABC studios declined to comment on a potential lawsuit, but a studio executive with knowledge of the TV biz says producers have the legal right to not pick up an actor's option â" with or without cause.)
Might Washington, who is currently shooting the independent movie The Least of These in Los Angeles, make a brief return to Grey's to tie up Burke's loose ends? "That would be a question for ABC," Bragman says. "I certainly can't imagine they would tell him they're not renewing his contract and then ask him to come back and clean things up."
What do you think? Should ABC have Washington come back for a cameo in order to actually send him off properly? Sound off on our Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Email him here.
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Arizona: We really are camping.
July 14th, 2009 12:29 AM
XcXFtj
June 23rd, 2007 9:52 AM
Well, I made this comment elsewhere and I will repeat it here; I wish to humbly thank all of those people that have forgiven me with endless grace and patience when I didn't deserve it. So, I will certainly not be hurling any brickbats at Mr. Washington. He made mistakes and tried to make amendments. What can he do if he has apologised umpteen times, done what has been requested of him and is still found to be wanting?
I can recall toward the beginning of the year Sharon Stone being quoted as saying that she found the whole furore ridiculous because she frequently called her gay friends the same word that has turned Mr. Washington's world upside down. Strangely enough, I saw no backlash or censorious opinions head the lady's way because of it...
It's been heartening to see the degree of support for Mr. Washington's portrayal of the sizzling Dr. Burke (oh, what a man, what a man, what a man!!!) in many of the comments, here. Others have also shown true generosity of spirit
June 21st, 2007 11:40 AM
IW MADE THIS SHOW " I WILL NOT BE WATCHING GA NEXT SEASON !!! THIS WAS MY FAVORITE SHOW MY FRIENDS & FAMILY LOVED THIS SHOW TOO , WE COULDN'T WAIT FOR THURSDAY NIGHTS WE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME . ALL DISIRE TO WATCH THIS SHOW IS GONE . THANKS ABC , AND SHONDA WAY TO GO !!!!!!!! HOW DO YOU GET RID OF BURKE ???
June 18th, 2007 1:59 AM
Burke Backer...
I don't know you...but I love your comments and endless supports toward Preston Burke/Isaiah Washington...Thank You...
Isaiah/Burke will always and forever have my support!
All the best!!!
June 14th, 2007 5:03 AM
I found George and Izzie so annoying....... Burke was one of the reasons I watch the show...... Even if they replace him with another actor.... I don't think I'll be watching the new season..... It's going to end up being a whiney show, with George, Izzie and Merideth doing nothing but whining. Hopefully Bailey and Yang can successfully carry the show, as they are the only characters that don't whine!!!
June 12th, 2007 9:58 PM
I totally am on the same boat as you though Kate no matter how long that was haha. I agree with everything that you wrote... and the fact that I agree with you when you say Grey's is going downhill makes me a bit sad, I love Grey's but like you said "I'm out" also if it keeps going downhill.
June 12th, 2007 8:43 PM
Um...that was longer than I meant it to be. Sorry...
June 12th, 2007 8:42 PM
I agree with various commentors that have said this: The whole situation has been handled very, very poorly since its eruption. It's too bad, because it's likely that things wouldn't have to be as bad as they are if better actions were taken right at the start.
I think that Grey's Anatomy/ABC/Shonda/whoever has been taking a lot of big risks lately. Unless they've already got some grand masterminded plan, a lot of damage has been done and it might not be able to be reversed. A main character, Addison/Kate Walsh (and god I hope a whole "main vs. insignificant character thing doesn't erupt there - I'm sick of seeing those, sorry) will not be returning to Grey's, which makes a lot of people unhappy. With the spinoff, no matter how optimistic people are about it, unfortunately spinoffs have an extensive history of failure. I would love to see Private Practice do well, but I'm guessing that it's not likely that it won't have any kind of stellar success, and I'm guessing it won't be te
June 12th, 2007 3:24 PM
However cute that was, Mr. Washington is still gone!
June 12th, 2007 2:20 PM
To T.R. Knight Supporters,
"Mr. Washington" did something so little as to call someone a name, and apologizied and did everything in his power to try and get everything normal again and did what was expected of him in order to get his career back. You're sliding with an attacker who went to the press and talk shows and repeated what was said (TRK). That's a no-no in my book.