Isaiah Washington Calls Grey's "Disgusting" for Firing Brooke Smith

Former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington -- who was axed from the show in 2007 after spewing a homophobic slur at T.R. Knight -- is slamming the show for firing Brooke Smith.


"I looked at a brilliant actress, whom I have adored since I first saw her in Silence of the Lambs," he says in the Nov. 17 issue of TV Guide. "For her to be treated this way, I find very interesting."


Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes released a statement last week insisting that "Brooke Smith was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian .... we did not find that the magic and chemistry with Brooke's character would sustain in the long run."


Regardless, Washington says the move was harsh.



"The fact is that, just before the holidays, you have a mother, a wonderful actress removed from a steady income without the proper reasoning behind it..." he says.

Keep reading

-or-

Read and watch what Patrick Dempsey said about it on Ellen

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Read the initial report of Smith's firing

Comments

[Lucida]

I wish people would stop calling IW homophobic. Using the f-word publicly and in anger makes him an a.$.$.hole, not a homophobe.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Isaiah needs to go away and stay away, homophobic.... *^*%$$#

[Eric8869]

This thread of comments is very disturbing to me. Nothing but making excuses for Isiah Washington's behavior and homophobia.

There is so much homophobia in this thread. Wow.

You people make me sad.

[Dannydel]

Isaiah...can you spell hypocrite? You homophobic has been.

[FCorey]

Has Been?
Why, because he is no longer on GREYS? Black folks (my folks) have been aware and a fan of Washingtons PRIOR to Greys Superstar studded rise.

I am not a fan of the sexual version of ER and will admit to not knowing what exactly went on with BROOKE SMITH or her character, but I also do not think Washington should be thrown in the trash because he does not agree with homosexuality. His comments were out of line and an example of poor choices and timing, but I don't hate the man.

NOT supporting homosexuality does not make one HOMOPHOBIC.

[auntiecairo]

The producers of Grey's Anatomy don't take to subtle acting -- most daytime soap operas are better written and have better acting - not the fault of the actors -just really over the top ridiculous story lines - I think Grey's could be the next Brady Bunch show to lampoon on stage --

[firelord5000]

I wish they had fired TR and kept these two if anything, at least they can act.

[Eric8869]

TR was a broadway star - he can act. You might be responding to the bad writing.

[firelord5000]

Just because you are good on broadway, doesn't mean you are good on TV. Sure bad writing is huge in this case, that is a given, but at least others can sell their characters, his character has been terribly written and acted upon after season 1.

[FCorey]

THANK YOU, I agree!

I do remember Smith from the show WEEDS. She was believable and has potential.

[ElPerro]

Seriously, this show has been a snooze fest since the second season. I enjoyed the first season. But it's unwatchable now. But I will shed no tears for Smith. She is a wonderful actress and a compelling screen presence. So she will be getting plenty of work in the future.

[StrategicThinker]

Most guys don't have a problem with lesbians (as long as they still dress up like attractive women), they have more of a problem with homosexual men.

[bolingo]

fitting moniker!

[TClarke]

There are times when it's best to just keep quiet, but it seems Isiah never knows when that is. Shut Up man! You look like Sarah Palin talking about birth control - ill-informed and unbelievable.

I don't know why they fired her, but the relationship wasn't believable. It felt like Torres has more chemistry w/McSteamy than w/old girl. It seemed like it was forced. If you're going to do a gay relationship, make it believable. We want to see chemistry, feel the attraction, we want Derek/Meredith or McSteamy/Torres or Burke/Christina heat. Not a Callie/George or worse Meredith/George awkward relationship.

[FCorey]

I think its just another attempt to push Latino/Black characters into the 'experimental-sex-fiend' (ie; DRAWN TOGETHER, anything on MTV, etc...) position as most of television already has.

I have a better idea! Have TR Knight come out (on the show) and play himself.

[playsindirt]

Oh, so he's Mr. Gay Rights now? Right.

[granamica]

No chemestry is no excuse. How long have we suffered with Mer/Der? Those two are like two day old flat coke.

[Fudgefase]

I wonder if the other actress wasn't happy about the direction of her character, and being the regular cast member, pulled rank?
Seriously though, Greys needs to sort itself out. The Izzy/George storyline (a WHOLE SEASON's worth) was boring and contrived; the big romance between Grey and McD is equally dull - anyone done a chemistry check on these two lately? - the only one with the remotest bit of potential is Sandra O and the new surgeon - though he's playing a spectacularly unlikable character at the moment (pigs - nonono...).
I don't think this series can go another series.

[siney]

no sara ramirez has stated in many interviews her support for the storyline with brooke smith...from all accounts, this was a decision made by the network ABC, not one by the producer shondra rhimes and not by the actors...

[Info08]

just another example revealing that Shondra has no control over her own show

[zorak1704]

I bet by the Feb. sweeps, Greys introduces a new hotter lesbian. You know, the type which lives in the imaginations of young boys.

[zenlikejen]

Then those boys should start watching All My Children - the daytime lesbians are H*O*T....

[RJII]

Isaiah was the talent on the show. I stopped watching after he left. The show stinks anyway.

[Info08]

Well the relationship between Burke and Yang was the life line of the show.

It very dynamic and extremely complex. It was really the most mature relationship on the show and the one of only two relationships with the most unforced chemistry. They both were crazy about each other, they just couldn't have been more different or confused about what they wanted from each other.

The relationship between Meredith and Derek always seems to be in transition and I could never figure out why George married Callie. It made no sense

[daisydukes]

I concur, the show just stopped for me after he left. It was fun watching these two most unlikely characters navigating their relationship. Meredith and Mcdreamy became a real bore. While I found TR real cute, it was not enough to keep me hanging. I would only tune in to watch it if there was nothing else to watch. As for Izzy, I found her irritating and preffered watching Yang who makes this show.

[DosaHut]

Isn't Isiah Thomas the same guy who was let go because he made disparaging remarks about another actor on Grey's, who is actually gay? What up?

[nanton29]

Was that a fruedian slip. Isiah Thomas was the N.Y. Knicks coach.

[Ides]

He dropped the six-letter f-bomb in reference to T.R. Knight during an argument with Patrick Dempsey.