Fired Grey's Anatomy star offers his side of the story

22.06.2007 16:03 Arts - Source: cbc.ca

TV actor Isaiah Washington, the former Grey's Anatomy star who fell from grace after uttering an anti-gay slur, believes that ABC "fired the wrong guy."

In a rare interview since ABC sacked the 43-year-old actor, Washington shifted the blame to former castmate T.R. Knight — who was allegedly the subject of the epithet.

"I have to clear my name," Washington told the Houston Chronicle for an article published Thursday.

"I'll start from the beginning. I'm telling everything. So here's the truth," he said in a telephone interview from the set of his new movie, The Least of These.

According to Washington, he had initially uttered the remark last fall during an exchange with castmate Patrick Dempsey on the set of the medical drama — which details complicated relationships among Seattle surgeons — and promptly apologized for it.

However, news of the incident emerged in the press and drew criticism from gay-rights groups. Knight, who had not previously spoken publicly about his sexual orientation, later revealed his homosexuality on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and spoke about the situation. According to Knight, Washington had used the slur against him and everyone on set had heard it.

At the Golden Globe Awards in January, Washington denied he had directed the slur at Knight and was subsequently denounced again by activists and co-star Katherine Heigl.

After Washington issued a public apology for his comment, said he was seeking therapy and filmed a public service announcement about the power of hurtful words, ABC announced on June 7 that it was not renewing his contract.

The news came shortly after a Grey's Anatomy season finale in which Washington's cardiac surgeon character leaves his fiance, played by Canadian actress Sandra Oh, at the altar. Oh's character later discovers that he has also cleared his most treasured belongings from their shared home.

Washington, who claims he is not homophobic, now says he feels Knight used the situation to enhance his own status on the show.

"I feel all this was about him getting a raise and getting his character to stop being perceived as a dopey, kooky kind of character. He perceives himself as a leading man. That's why you could see the change this past season," Washington told the Chronicle.

"I was used and I was exploited. I may be wrong but that's how I feel about it."

He also said he is considering a lawsuit over the ordeal.

Filming is set to begin on the new season of Grey's Anatomy in early July.

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