Celebrity Feuds
Isaiah Washington -- A Terror on the Set?

Patrick DempseyIsaiah Washington got into it big time with Patrick Dempsey on the set of 'Grey's Anatomy.' Now TMZ has learned that Washington has had other on-set blowups.

A simmering feud between the two actors bubbled over last week, when Washington reportedly got in Dempsey's face, said some "disgusting things," then allegedly pushed "McDreamy" against a wall and choked him. We're told the incident was so intense it shut down production for a short time.

Now TMZ has learned of two other incidents that make Washington sound like "Dr. McNightmare." In the year 2000, Washington was shooting the TV show "Soul Food" for Showtime in Toronto. Washington and an actress, who played his wife, were shooting a scene in which Isaiah was supposed to give the woman a superficial kiss. We're told to the horror of everyone, Washington grabbed the woman and planted a "forceful, aggressive kiss."

The actress became irate, which then infuriated Washington who began screaming at her. At that point the director stepped in to correct Washington, and the actor went off on him. Executive Producer Tracey Edmonds then took over and Washington went off on her.

In 1997 there was yet another incident on the set of the TV show "High Incident." Washington was a guest star on the show, but we're told the gig ended abruptly after the actor had a physical altercation with a crew member. We're told it was serious enough that police were called.

As for the "Grey's Anatomy" melee, there are reports that Washington taunted Dempsey by saying, "I'm not your little faggot like [name redacted]," referring to a fellow cast member. Yesterday, "Grey's" cast member T.R. Knight revealed to PEOPLE magazine that he's gay, possibly prompted by public revelation of Washington's outburst.



Tags: Grey's Anatomy, Grey'sAnatomy, Isaiah Washington, IsaiahWashington, Patrick Dempsey, PatrickDempsey

Reader Comments

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46. I'm sure if it was Patrick Dempsey that attacked him the NAACP would be calling for his job and making it a racial issue. Lets not be naive about this you hypocrites that are protecting Washington. He should be canned for being responsible for the attack and calling someone a faggot in front of a huge crowd of co-workers. I don't care what color he is, but he's a classless @sshole.

Posted at 8:17PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Reality

47. So much Drivel.......Much adoo about nothing!

Posted at 10:03PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Greg

48. Washington is obvious a good candidate for a head-shrink, his behaviour is very anti-social, I believe he was born with these charater trates and needs proffessional counceling. It must also be made clear to him that his behavior can cost him his job. Other agencies would think twice before they hire him, there are plenty of good actors and even better than him on the market. Agencies scan the internet and will read about his unconrolled behavior and are not about to risc their money and investments.

Posted at 2:45PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Max

49. Anger Management Control ? YES
But....
AFTER he is FIRED from the show.

DO NOT WANT TO WATCH HIM ANYMORE ON AAANNNYYY SHOW !!!

Posted at 2:48PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Mary ann

50. He should be fired if he doesn't take a mandatory anger management session at least twice a week during taping. Maybe he is jealous of Patrick Demsey's Movie Star past? MAybe he is a closeted homosexual? MAybe I'm right or wrong? But there are obvious issues with this guy that need to be addressed by him . If not, fire his easily replaceable ass. But we should probably protect our border first and straighten out Kim Jong Il while we are at it. Oh, and prevent Madonna from adopting anyone, lol!

Posted at 2:48PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Joe

51. It's unfortunate this incident somehow turned into a racial dispute with some of the individuals having comments. If any individual (black, white, asian, whatever) is interfering with the progress of the program, they must be removed if he/she doesn't seek means of correcting the error.

Posted at 3:05PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Debra

52. Its a TV show, their are human beings on it. They're humanity is showing on a show whos cast is under a microscope...on another show this behavior might have gone unnoticed. So, Washington...understand that you are under a microscope, everything you do will be watched and judged by the media, then the public. Do your best to get along...and when you can't...do what we tell our children to do...step out for a moment, so that you aren't tried and hung in public. I think we can all recall moments in our life when we didn't handle things well. If all he has is three of these incidents, then he's doing better than I am. But again, learn to disengage, and save yourself the scrutiny. Lets all enjoy the show, and let personality conflicts be handled by the show staff and not us.

Posted at 2:49PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Melissa

53. Washington is apparently insane. He should be fired and considered unemployable by all producers and directors until he goes through EXTENSIVE anger management sessions...and then put on probation once he returns to acting.

I don't give a damn how talented he is or how extensive his "theatre work" has been. He needs to work on his personality and temper.

I am usually not one to bring race into matters. I think the race card is played all to damned often but this man makes all Black actors look bad with his gorilla like behavior.

Additionally his slur against T. R. Night is disgusting and more than likely rooted in jealousy over Mr. Knight having a plotline that is so closely entwined with the character for whom the show is named.

Too effing bad. If Washington didn't act like such an animal maybe he would see he has it pretty good and should consider himself LUCKY to have a job at all given his past behavior on other sets and with professionals (I can't say "other professionals" as I no longer consider Isaiah Washington a professional anything ...other than a professional bully and jerk).

Posted at 2:49PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Lena

54. Yes, he is black and yes, there seem to be more blacks with these troubles, but that is no reason to feel all blacks are like them. What about Obama and the "black actress" who was the first "black actress" to win and Oscar for best actress. Both of them are only half black - both had white mothers. Why are they always described at Black?

Posted at 12:54PM on Oct 23rd 2006 by judy

55. It is pretty obvious from the article posted that Washington has some anger issues, which doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the fact that he's black. It does sound like he's a danger to others on the set and fazing out his character is an option that should be explored. The fact that he would grab another person by the throat and spew homophobic epithets, especially in front of witnesses, shows a seious lack of impulse control. No one character is indispensible in an ensemble cast like this, and this is a very fine, talented ensemble cast.

Posted at 7:19PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Katie

56. Since it's obviously not the first time this guy's gone ballistic on a set I would hope that the producers, for the sake of all the other Grey's Anatomy actors, will fire him. It's impossible now not to think of what a complete jerk he is. For everyone involved, this guy should go.

Posted at 2:52PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by spay/neuter

57. This isn't about ethnicity at all. IF true, then Mr. Washington and perhaps others need some help managing their behavior. Exchanging words which denigrate others are bad enough but there is never an excuse for physical aggression. Who knows what happened? I think many of us will agree some in the media will do all they can to knock people down once they've become successful. My regret is that "Grey's Anatomy" is such a good show and I would hate to see it suffer because of this kind of thing. But it IS a good show because of the executive producer and, I believe, creator, Shonda, and she seems like a strong enough person to deal with this--and, hopefully, she will and the cast members--all of them--will pull themselves together and stop with the diva-esque behavior IF that is what in fact is going on. Before this, there were all sorts of stories about Ellen Pompeo being horrible on the set and disliked by the cast members.....and that has been refuted. I suppose what it gets down to is--with success--comes a target on your back, as well.

Posted at 2:52PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Sharon

58. Washington needs to grow up or get out. Why are they putting up with this crap? His spot surely, would not be very hard to fill. Keep the workplace for work, not baby-fits.

Posted at 12:26AM on Oct 24th 2006 by Barbara

59. It will be a shame if they fired Isaish, he's a great actor. I belive brings alot to the show. hopefully this is not going on.

Posted at 6:58PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Mayra

60. I think homophobia is a real problem. If Washington really said what it is being claimed he said, about Knight, I think he should be fired. And he should think twice before going after Dempsey, for if Shonda had to decide between the two, I doubt that she'd need to give it a second thought.

Posted at 2:54PM on Oct 22nd 2006 by Jodie

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