Washington: "I Was Fired Because I'm Black"

[oberliner]

Actor Isaiah Washington insists the only reason he was fired from TV show Grey's Anatomy for making a homophobic remark was because of the color of his skin. Washington infamously made an offensive comment about castmate T.R. Knight last October and repeated it at the Golden Globe Awards earlier this year. But the 43-year-old claims he was fired from Grey's Anatomy earlier this month because America can't find it in its heart to forgive an African-American. He cites the examples of actor Robert Downey, Jr., who has rebuilt his career despite multiple run-ins with the police over his drug problems, and politician Arnold Schwarzenneger, who has fought allegations of sexual misconduct. Washington tells U.S. magazine Newsweek, "I apologized and showed my remorse for what I said and for the pain I caused anyone. If a black man can't get forgiveness in this country, when so many other people like Robert Downey, Jr. and the governor of California get second and third chances... I think that says a lot about race and this country where we stand."

http://imdb.com/news/wenn/2007-06-29/

[LostinVA]

1. I started a thread in GD about this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1211430

[Shakespeare]

6. Troublemaker.

:7

:*

[LostinVA]

7. I know -- I did it just to confuse you

[helderheid]

2. You were fired for calling him a faggot.

:eyes:

[wildhorses]

3. so then,

you are less a man than imus and need to be held to a lower standard?



just askin'














cos i am really confused

[Debi]

4. Then why did all the other black actors remain on the show?

You were fired for being homophobic in an enlightened group of individuals :eyes:

[Connonym]

8. And good riddence I say

He keeps trash talking like this and he'll find it harder and harder to get a job. For which I'm sure he'll blame someone else.

Over and above the supposed tension on the set, I think a big part of letting him go was that he wasn't a good enough actor to make us believe the character -- all we could see was the asshole actor playing him.

[Debi]

10. His biggoted belief that black celebrities are never forgiven for their mistakes

is BS - looke at Vanessa Williams (who didn't see those photos??), Mariah Carrey (lost all control on TRL), Snoop Dogg (arrested in murder probe)....hell, Michael Jordan (gambling), Marion Berry (crack use)....do you want me to go on? All of them black and all of them have continued to have careers in the industries they represent. Seems he's being singled out not for being black but for being a biggot!!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

12. Not to mention the show's creator is a black woman.

[kay1864]

5. "You were fired because you're a jerk"

Irrespective of color.

Buh-bye.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. you were fired because you are a homophobic ass.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. He cites Downey, but Downey did his time.

That guy couldn't find work for a long time, and he actually has some talent, unlike Washington. Washington hasn't yet spent his 40 years in the desert, so to speak. His 40 years keeps getting longer and longer when you make comments like this.

[BlueIris]

13. Still no remorse for the damage done to T.R. Knight's career?

Nice.