Isaiah Washington. (Leon Bennett/FilmMagic)
Grey’s Anatomy star Isaiah Washington is still raging that he was sacked for using a homophobic slur against a gay co-star more than a decade ago.
Washington, a proud Trump supporter, found himself at the centre of controversy in October 2006 when rumours circulated that he had referred to T.R. Knight as a “f****t” on set during an argument with Patrick Dempsey.
The backlash intensified when he was asked about the incident at the Golden Globes, and responded: “No, I did not call T.R. a f****t.”
Months later, ABC announced that it had decided not to renew Washington’s contract – and more than 13 years later, the actor is still furious.
Former Grey’s Anatomy star Isaiah Washington tried to reignite feud with Katherine Heigl over his sacking more than a decade ago.
On November 16, Washington tweeted a picture of former Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl, who staunchly defended Knight at the time, and said: “This woman once proclaimed that I should ‘never’ be allowed to speak publicly again.
“The world agreed with her proclamation back then and protests 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,” he added.
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
Washington was seemingly referring to an interview Heigl did with Access Hollywood‘s Shaun Robinson in 2007 about Washington’s conduct.
“I’m going to be really honest right now, he needs to just not speak in public. Period. I’m sorry, that did not need to be said, I’m not OK with it,” Heigl said at the time.
This woman once proclaimed that I should ‘never’ be allowed to speak publicly again.
When asked if she thought Washington’s remark was an off-the-cuff comment, Heigl said: “I have no idea what it was, I just find it hurtful. I just feel like this is something that should be very much in-house we need to deal with and it’s among us and the cast and crew and among Shonda [Rhimes, the show’s creator] and the producers.”
Heigl has not responded to Washington’s tweet, but a source close to the star told E! News: “Katherine stood up for her close friend twice when Isaiah publicly outed him and called him a f****t. That’s hate talk, not free speech.
“She is proud that she stood up for him. Katherine is and always will be an advocate and ally to the LGBTQ community.”