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Washington To Lose Out On Grey’s Pay Rise?

andPOP Staff — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 01:25:06 +0000

GREY’S ANATOMY star ISAIAH WASHINGTON is at risk of losing out on a pay rise after his homophobic outburst earlier this year.

Washington shocked Golden Globe Award attendees in January by calling gay co-star T.R. KNIGHT a “f*****” – and the episode is likely to cost the star a wage boost, according to PageSix.com.

A source says, “All the actors are in the midst of contract renegotiations, but ABC is using Isaiah’s recent troubles to keep from paying him more.

“Isaiah knows it is his fault that he may not get the fat raise he was going to get. ABC doesn’t have to give him anything – he is under contract for seven years – and this is going to cost him millions. It’s just a bitter pill he is going to have to swallow.”

A representative for Washington says, “We are going to do our business in private, not in the press.”

Last week, details of a salary dispute between ABC bosses and Grey’s Anatomy star KATHERINE HEIGL were leaked to the press.

Grey’s Anatomy To Get Spin-Off

andPOP Staff — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:46:10 +0000

The US ABC network is planning a spin-off of its hit medical series GREY’S ANATOMY, featuring the character of DR ADDISON MONTGOMERY-SHEPHERD, played by KATE WALSH.

The show’s creator, SHONDA RHIMES, is preparing a two-hour episode Grey’s Anatomy, set to air in May, that would serve as the pilot episode for the proposed spinoff.

If the network approves, the show will be considered for spot on the schedule next autumn.

An ABC spokeswoman confirmed the plans, but said the plot line for the spinoff was being kept under wraps and no title has been selected.

Grey’s Anatomy has remained hugely popular in the US ratings since its premiere in April 2005.

Gay Actress Offers Washington Her Support

andPOP Staff — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:15:02 +0000

Disgraced GREY’S ANATOMY star ISAIAH WASHINGTON has received support from an unlikely source as he battles his homophobia demons – lesbian actress TAMMY LYNN MICHAELS.

Washington was released from a rehabilitation facility after a week of counselling for his repeated use of the word “faggot” yesterday, and he is reportedly expected back on the set of the medical drama later today.

And Michaels, who is rocker MELISSA ETHERIDGE’s longtime partner, has offered the troubled actor a few words of support on her website.

The actress reveals Washington and his family have been guests at the home she shares with Etheridge, and she never thought he was homophobic.

Writing in her blog, Michaels offers, “He’s not a bad man. He’s flawed. Aren’t we all?

“I forgive his words, because, truth be told, I do not believe the word faggot exists in his heart.”

Washington hit the headlines last year when he referred to gay co-star TR KNIGHT as a “faggot” during an on-set dispute. He repeated the derogatory word during a press conference backstage at the Golden Globe Awards on January 15.

Grey’s Anatomy Cast Unsure Of Washington’s Future

andPOP Staff — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:07:50 +0000

LATEST: ISAIAH WASHINGTON’s GREY’S ANATOMY castmates are keeping their distance as the disgraced actor battles his demons in rehab.

He star was a no-show at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, where his castmates claimed a Best TV Ensemble, after checking into a treatment centre to address issues that reared up after he twice referred to gay co-star TR KNIGHT as a “faggot.”

And while co-star CHANDRA WILSON offered her support to him during her Best Actress acceptance speech, other castmates weren’t quite so warm towards Washington.

KATHERINE HEIGL, who suggested the actor shouldn’t be allowed to speak publicly after mentioning the ‘f’ word at a Golden Globe Awards backstage press conference earlier this month, was still chilly towards him.

Of his SAG Awards absence, she said, “As far as we know, he’s seeking treatment right now to help with some of his issues.

“We don’t know when he’ll be back, or for how long.”

After publicly apologizing for his remarks, Washington checked into a residential treatment facility last week in a bid to keep his job on the medical drama, according to news reports in America.

Washington Seeks Counseling At Treatment Centre

andPOP Staff — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:39:44 +0000

Disgraced GREY’S ANATOMY star ISAIAH WASHINGTON was checked into a residential treatment facility in a bid to keep his job on the medical drama, according to news reports in America.

The actor hit the headlines last year with anti-gay remarks he made towards castmate TR KNIGHT on the set of the show. He repeated the remarks in a bid to clear his name at the Golden Globe Awards earlier this month.

After publicly apologizing for using the derogatory word “faggot” in public last week, Washington met with enraged gay community leaders on Monday.

Accepting he needs help, Washington checked into the unnamed facility for a “psychological assessment” this morning, according to a report in American publication Life & Style.

His decision to seek help for his comments came after Washington met with TV bosses at ABC, the network that airs Grey’s Anatomy in the US.

A source tells the publication, “ABC has told him he must enter a program to examine why he would say such hateful words.”

Washington Set To Be Sacked?

andPOP Staff — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:59:38 +0000

ISAIAH WASHINGTON is on the verge of being fired from hit TV show GREY’S ANATOMY, according to media reports in the US.

Washington sparked a public backlash last week when he denied calling co-star TR KNIGHT “a faggot” during a press conference at the Golden Globe Awards.

And now, according to E! Online reporter KRISTIN VEITCH, executives at US network ABC are looking for ways to sack the troubled star, who plays DR PRESTON BURKE on the show.

She writes on her blog, “(I) just received word from a highly placed source within the Touchstone/ABC family that ABC and Disney executives are currently considering the option of firing Isaiah Washington from Grey’s Anatomy, effective immediately, without having him appear in any kind of farewell episode.

“According to this reliable source, if the network does follow through with this option, the producers are likely to run a full-screen announcement at the beginning of the first Burke-less episode that announces Isaiah Washington is no longer part of the show.

“I’m also told by various sources that the loss of Preston Burke is not an easy task for Grey’s writing staff to deal with, given that he has a major storyline (including a life-changing event) coming in the next few episodes that air during February sweeps. Those episodes have already been shot.”

ABC issued a statement last week calling Washington’s behaviour “unacceptable” and he has since issued an apology and met with gay leaders.

Washington Meets With Gay Leaders

andPOP Staff — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:15:44 +0000

Disgraced GREY’S ANATOMY star ISAIAH WASHINGTON met with leaders of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) yesterday to address his recent homophobic remarks.

In a statement last week, Washington declared he needed help after lying about using the word “faggot” to describe gay castmate TR KNIGHT.

He also agreed to meet with GLAAD leaders, who had requested the chance to sit and talk with the actor in a statement they released last week. That meeting took place yesterday, shortly after Washington fired his longtime publicist.

GLAAD officials were upset when the actor insisted he “did not call TR a faggot” during a Grey’s Anatomy press conference backstage at the Golden Globe Awards last week. Knight went public two days later, revealing his co-star had called him a “faggot” during a heated row with castmate PATRICK DEMPSEY last October.

Isaiah Washington Sacks Publicist

andPOP Staff — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:08:12 +0000

Troubled GREY’S ANATOMY star ISAIAH WASHINGTON has sacked his longtime publicist in the midst of his public relations crisis.

Washington is facing a public backlash after making comments in the Golden Globes press room last week, denying he made derogatory comments towards co-star TR KNIGHT.

According to TVGuide.com, the actor has hired publicists ALLEN MAYER and KELLY MULLENS, who are crisis management experts.

Mayer has done damage control for clients including R KELLY, TOMMY LEE and comedian PAULA POUNDSTONE.

Washington has issued a public apology and agreed to meet with members of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Isaiah Washington: ‘I Need Help’

andPOP Staff — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:10:56 +0000

GREY’S ANATOMY star ISAIAH WASHINGTON has accepted he needs help after “marring” his castmates’ magical night at the Golden Globe Awards on Monday by using the word “faggot” in a press conference.

The actor grabbed the microphone in the press room, after picking up the Best TV Drama prize with his co-stars, and attempted to address ongoing reports about his on-set spat with fellow TV surgeon PATRICK DEMPSEY.

Last October’s fight started after Washington called gay co-star TR KNIGHT a faggot, with Knight coming clean about his sexuality following the incident.

At the Globes, Washington blurted out the ‘f’ word as he foolishly insisted he never used the derogatory term, calling it “vile.”

Knight has since appeared on US TV talk show ELLEN to confirm Washington did indeed refer to him as a faggot on the Grey’s Anatomy set.

Bosses at America’s ABC network, which airs the show, have issued a statement criticizing Washington for his Golden Globes gaffe, with Washington coming forward to further apologize for his comments.

In a statement, released late on Thursday the actor, who played a gay man in SPIKE LEE’s GET ON THE BUS, said, “I apologize to TR, my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance.

“By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on Grey’s Anatomy. I can neither defend nor explain my behaviour.

“I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I’ve asked for help.

“I know the power of words, especially those that demean. I realize that, by using one filled with disrespect, I have hurt more than TR and my colleagues.

With one word, I’ve hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted.”

Washington has accepted an invitation to meet with gay activists and hopes to talk to them about “what I can do to heal the wounds I’ve opened,” adding “I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity.”

As WENN went to press, more than 9,000 Grey’s Anatomy fans had signed an internet petition urging ABC bosses to fire Washington over his comments.

U.S. TV Network Executives Blast Washington ‘F’ Bomb

andPOP Staff — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 23:06:48 +0000

Executives at US TV network ABC have slammed GREY’S ANATOMY star ISAIAH WASHINGTON’s use of a gay slur at the Golden Globe Awards as “unacceptable.”

Washington stunned castmates in the press room at the awards show on Monday, when he insisted he never used the word “faggot” to describe gay co-star TR KNIGHT during an on-set spat last year.

ABC issued a statement Thursday saying, “We have along-standing policy to create and maintain respectful workplaces for all our employees.

“We dealt with the original situation in October, and thought the issue resolved. Therefore, we are greatly dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, that he himself deemed ‘unfortunate’ in his previous public apology.

“We take this situation very seriously, and his actions are unacceptable and are being addressed.”

Knight told talk show host ELLEN DEGENERES Tuesday that he had, in fact, referred to him as a “faggot” during a scuffle with co-star PATRICK DEMPSEY on the set last year.

Fans of the medical drama are also on the attack – in an internet petition, which was sent to ABC bosses yesterday – over 8,000 viewers asked TV executives to fire Washington.