Celebrity Feuds
Knight: Isaiah Forced Me Out with "Faggot" Slur

T.R. Knight says that Isaiah Washington forced him out of the closet when he called him a "faggot" on the set of "Grey's Anatomy."

What's more, Knight tells Ellen DeGeneres that he's dumbfounded by Washington's denial of having called Knight a "faggot" in a scuffle with "Grey's" co-star Patrick Dempsey. Washington offered the denial in an interview at Monday's Golden Globes. Knight, in turn, told Ellen, "I don't know what to say, really, about that."

Knight also says that he'd never been called by the slur "to his face," and when he heard Washington refer to him in that way, "something shifted, and it became bigger than myself." Shortly thereafter, Knight revealed to People magazine that he is, in fact, gay, but says he never intended to before the incident. "It became important to make the statement," he says.

Knight appears on today's episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Check your local listings.



Filed under: Celebrity Feuds

Reader Comments

(Page 5 of 8)Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. To #64 - wow...I. Washington didn't just tell T.R. he's gay he angrily called him faggot. So when Michael Richards used the n-word he was just informing the heckler that he's black?!

Posted at 5:57PM on Jan 17th 2007 by T-Bone

62. I was a shock to hear Isaish use the "F" word. He's a low class disgusting pig. And those who leave comments calling him the "N" word are just as bad. Only uneducated ignorant savages talk like that. Anyway fire him and add Blair Underwood to the cast. Blair is Handsome and Decent.

Posted at 6:16PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Ane

63. I'm surprised anyone would use any kind of slurs these days, racial or otherwise. I would have thought Washington would be more sensitive to that because of the bigotry that's been shown to black people over the years. And on Martin Luther King Day he repeats it. "I have a dream" should now be "I have a nightmare"...

I'm just as ashamed for the "producer" of the show. How dare she stick up for him and go along with "nothing happened" and expect the entire cast to go along with it. It was obvious the second he said it that the entire cast was uncomfortable. In a regular workplace, he'd have been fired on the spot.

Posted at 6:40PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Just A Thought

64. Am I the only one who remembers that Isaiah played a gay Black man in the movie "Get On The Bus"? Anyways, kicking him off the show wouldnt do any good, and I agree that he didnt FORCE TR out the closet. He said it on a closed set, in front of the cast and crew. I mean, seriously, move the hell on people. There are worse things said everyday without needing to go on Ellen and milk the sympathy. And its amazing how sensitive gays are about being called a f*****, when I've seen more racism in the gay community than in any other area.

Posted at 7:05PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Angry Black

65. 65# T-Bone. There would be not a need to inform anyone that they were black. It is pretty obvious. Quit trying to equate being gay with being black. It is not the same.

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

66. Angry Black? It's not the same. If TR's friends/coworkers knew he was gay, and they and he have all said that he did, then that "slur" wouldn't have happened. You must not work in a regular work environment, because if he was on my staff, he'd have been gone in a second. I'm not black, and I'm not gay, but I don't think that Washington had any business nor could I see a reason why he did that. Good for Dempsey for being offended enough to stick up for a friend. I would hope that he'd have Washington's back too if he was called the "N" word. Washington doesn't fit in with the cast, when the whole subject was brought up, everyone was uncomfortable with the lies, it was so clear. For him to bring it up again was ridiculous. I think the rest of the cast should be applauded for standing behind TR and saying something. I wouldn't call a black person the N word, and I wouldn't call a gay man the F word, but I would call a liar a liar in a heartbeat.

Posted at 7:45PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Just A Thought

67. Whatever. This was an argument between two men that got out of control. It happens. Everyone already knew TR was gay anyway. Some folks are just trying to make an example out of Isiah and won't be happy until he's on Jay Leno crying like an ugly girl at the prom. He's stressed out and does not deserve the treatment he's being subjected to. And Katherine H. simply needs to stop being a PR whore and keep her mouth shut.

Posted at 10:06PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Patrice

68. I hope IW gets fired...not only that....I hope they make it hard for him to land another gig for awhile.

CALL BLAIR UNDERWOOD.....ASAP.....HE'S GREAT ON THE EYES...AND ...OH..SO SMOOTH

Posted at 10:50PM on Jan 17th 2007 by blanca

69. CRY BABIES - SO WHAT!! YOU WERE CALLED A NAME! BIG DEAL< GET OVER IT. GROW UP!,

Posted at 11:33PM on Jan 17th 2007 by katie Petish

70. I'm a straight person and I have nothing against anyone because of their race,color,religious beliefs and definately not because of their sexuality.I think Isaiah should be fired from the show because of his ignorance.I feel if anyone has a secret or preference they should come out and tell people when they feel the times right for them not be exposed by someone else.This guy is a real idiot for putting someone in that position.

Posted at 11:53PM on Jan 17th 2007 by shannon

71. So now we all know:

When a black feels 'wronged' they run to Jessie Jackson
When a gay feels 'wronged' they run to Ellen
When a women feels "wronged" they run to Oprah...or Dr. Phil.

Hey typical American Born white males............who's your leader ????

Posted at 12:15AM on Jan 18th 2007 by MomIam

72. Why the hell are you f*** ups so racist i think i what Isaiah said was extremely hurtful and he should be fired but for you dumbasses (and you know who you are) to take it to and even hurtful level is disgusting , the use of the word nigger is on the same level as faggot there both despicable and who ever uses them should grow the hell up and that my two cents

Posted at 1:55AM on Jan 18th 2007 by Ty

73. #14 Good comment Toni!!!

This really is a question of Ethics on ABC!!!

1. Do they have a harrasment free policy?

This would be consider to be grounds for FIRING but remember ELLEN has so old business to burn with ABC remember ELLEN the sitcom!!!

2. ISIAH has had a reputation as being difficult in many acting roles.

3. Regardless the hit show Is showing to gays and everyone else that they consider gays 2nd class citizens with no protection from harrassment and discrimination.

So I applaud T.R. Knight speaking publicly about It but remember when ELLEN Came out her show was CANCELLED!

Likely the backlash will cause T.R. to leave the show and ISIAH free to harrass again again.

I think women may have been harrass by him as well but afraid to speak out!!

Sadly I will no longer be watching this show due to the reason that they tolerate DISCRIMINATION!!!!

Posted at 2:06AM on Jan 18th 2007 by milla

74. He should publicly apologize, not because he first said it, but because he said it then denied it to the public. I hope that he already apologized to T.R. (if not, now would be a good time). People should accept his sincere apology.
To drag this on is to take away attention to some of the big events that are happening globally. I mean, really, let's get past this people (and I mean this as a gay man).

Posted at 5:03AM on Jan 18th 2007 by Johnny

75. He should apologize . If it were you or I at the workplace saying that or "that" we would be cleaning out our office . He wants to be a big man , then admit he used the word then get over it . Didn't he learn anything from " Kramer " and Mel ??? If I were the writers on that show I'd give him a Sex change , but only the bottom half . God loves Irony .

Posted at 5:47AM on Jan 18th 2007 by kevinbgood621

Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

Hot Tips

Email Alerts