Thu. January 18, 2007
As the behind the scenes drama of television's hottest show continues to heat up, gay and lesbian advocacy groups and a slew of devoted fans are demanding an apology from Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington for his use of a homophobic slur against openly gay co-star T.R. Knight—some people are even insisting the actor be fired.
On Wednesday, GLAAD president Neil Giuliano said he had contacted Washington's representatives in hopes of meeting the actor to discuss "the destructive impact of these kinds of anti-gay slurs."
"Washington's repeated use of it on-set and in the media is simply inexcusable," Giuliano said in a statement.
During a backstage interview at Monday's Golden Globe Awards, Washington denied he used the anti-gay slur against Knight during a much publicized fight on the set of the show last November.
"No, I did not call T.R. a faggot," Washington told reporters. "Never happened, never happened."
Washington went on to insist to reporters for Access Hollywood that he couldn't never do something so "Vile" to a fellow human being.
But Wednesday, Knight turned up on Ellen DeGeneres' daytime talk show to say Washington had said the word and that the incident is what forced him to come out in People Magazine.
Anatomy co-star Katherine Heigl followed Washington's backstage denial of having said the word by telling Access Hollywood "he just needs to stop speaking in public. Period."
Heigl said she's not OK with Washington's use of the word and added that, "TR's my best friend. So I will throw down for that kid. I will beat you up. I will use every ounce of energy I have to take you down if you hurt his feelings."
Influential entertainment Blog sites including PerezHilton.com and Towle Road are demanding Washington be handed a pink slip while E! Online television columnist Kristin Veitch posed the question of her readers whether the actor should be allowed to stay on the show.
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