Celebrity Feuds
GLAAD Unhappy with Isaiah Washington

Isaiah WashingtonThe Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is demanding an apology from "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington for continually making homophobic remarks. In the past four months, Washington has used the offensive term "faggot" twice in reference to co-star T.R. Knight.

In a statement to TMZ, GLAAD President Neil Giuliano said, "When Isaiah Washington uses this kind of anti-gay slur - whether on set or in front of the press - it does more than create a hostile environment for his castmates and the crew of 'Grey's Anatomy.' It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm's way. Washington's repeated use of it on-set and in the media is simply inexcusable."

In an interview at Monday's Golden Globes, Washington denied using the offensive term by ... using the offensive term. "No, I did not call T.R. a faggot." Knight then went on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and confirmed that Washington did, in fact, use the term on the "Grey's" set in October.

GLAAD has contacted Washington in hopes of setting up a meeting with the embattled actor. Giuliano added, "We want to sit down with him and give him an opportunity to raise public awareness about the destructive impact of these kinds of anti-gay slurs. Over the past four months Washington has become part of a significant problem of anti-gay prejudice in this country. He now has an opportunity to be part of the solution."

Reps for "Grey's Anatomy" could not be immediately reached.



Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 7) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. Doug #23. Being gay is not wrong anymore than being black is. You are who you are. And one can still be discriminated against and lose a career such a thing. If someone else breaks the new it becomes tabloid fodder which is worse than announcing it yourself. Obviously you're a white, straight guy who knows nothing about this. But if there was something about you that you preferred no one know would you want it disclosed?

Posted at 5:49PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Jeep

32. Hey! Rosie ODonnell...you jumped all over Kelly Ripa for being homophobic
when she is not homophobic but yet you won't jump all over Isiah Washington. He actually used the word "faggot" in front of witnessess.
Why is that? You don't want a black man after you? Claiming racial injustice?

Posted at 6:01PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Edward Garza

33. D-man,
Again I see you again. Aren't we all faggots, D-Man? Aren't we all whores?
How far would you go or bend to make it in the world? For fame or cash?
Write back, seriously, write back.

Posted at 6:02PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Edward Garza

34. This man is a animal and should be fired NOW. Put Blair Underwood in his part. Blair is hot and a decent human being.

Posted at 6:09PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Ane

35. everyone calls each other fags all the time especially guys in general. if you are gay you just gotta laugh at it and be proud of who you are. i honestly don't think isaiah should apologize to anyone but TR himself.

Posted at 6:13PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Dara

36. Wait,
This guy played the part of a BLack, Gay, Republican,Ex-Marine in Spike Lee's "Get on the Bus".
He may feel that gives him the right to his comments. I just never knew he looked so much like Buckwheat!

Posted at 12:29AM on Jan 18th 2007 by Luther Lackey

37. Maybe if Washington had just called him a fudge packer then GLADD would be HAPPY.

Posted at 6:46PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Party On Garth

38. I wonder what would have happened if T.R. Knight would have called Isaiah Washington a nigger. Would ABC have had the same reaction and done absolutely nothing about it?

I think not.

Hate speech is still A-OK as long as it's against gay people.

Posted at 3:11PM on Jan 22nd 2007 by John

39. well yes he is an a**hole but bottom line he is an awful actor. He needs to hit the dinner theatre circuit. he is an OVERactor. The show will be better just to get rid of him. hmmmm Question Has he apologized to TR??? He keeps referring back to McDreamy. HMMM maybe he has a crush.

Posted at 7:09PM on Jan 17th 2007 by rypper

40. Isaiah Washington is the most hated man in Hollywood. Evan Mel Gibson has NOTHING on this fool. After the Golden Globe Awards he actually took over a microphone in front of cast members and said, I did not call T.R. A faggot. This Washington dude ought to be bitch slapped all the way to Pacoima. I seriously hope he loses his job over this.

Posted at 7:20PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Paul Kline

41. Its ironic this stuff is stired up on observation of ML Kings birthday. For Washington to use that remark shows the true content of his character. Now, because of the color of his skin, to me, he is just another N****R. Racism is alive and thriving thanks to people like him!!!!

Posted at 7:12PM on Jan 17th 2007 by tod diffenbaugh

42. He should be fired, are you kidding me if the situation was the other way around and T R had called him the N word, he would have been fired in the spot.Shame on Shonda Rhimes for letting this slide just because she is black...talk about prejudice!

Posted at 7:16PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Ernesto

43. SO WHAT HE CALLED SOMEONE A FAGGOT!!! ANYONE EVER HEARD OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT?? FREEDOM OF SPEECH PEOPLE. IF YOU ARE A FAG OR DYKE, SUCK IT UP!! AFTER ALL FAG AND DYKE MEAN THE SAME THING AS GAY... THIS IS JUST AS STUPID AS "PEOPLE" COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMEONE USING THE " N '" WORD..... THEY CAN SAY IT BUT ANY ONE ELSE CAN'T... YOU AIN'T THAT SPECIAL

Posted at 5:56PM on Jan 18th 2007 by Amy

44. #42 while I undertand your passion for the issue, the two examples used are scripted dialogue not real life, there is a difference.

Posted at 8:06PM on Jan 17th 2007 by kd

45. Jess,

Black people call each other NIGGER all the time. However when a white person does it, it becomes a slur. Same thing for gay people, although I know very few gay people who call each other fag. Isaiah has proven he is not a very nice person. He starts fights at his place of employment, outs a fellow cast member, and then makes things worse by bringing the whole subject up again at the Golden Globes, when it should have been the casts shining moment. what a jerk. FIRE HIM.

Posted at 7:56PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Paul Kline

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