Anatomy star apologises after gay slur

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • October 26, 2006 - 0:00

Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington is clearing his conscience after an on screen fight with co-star Patrick Dempsey in which he allegedly referred to co-star T. R. Knight as a faggot

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In a statement of apology jointly issued to Entertainment Tonight and People Magazine, Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington is clearing his conscience after an on screen fight with co-star Patrick Dempsey in which he allegedly referred to co-star T. R. Knight as a faggot.

"I sincerely regret my actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on set," Washington said in the statement.

"Both are beneath my own personal standards and do not reflect the great personal regard I have for my fellow cast mates and crew, whom I believe to be some of the most talented in the entertainment industry. I have nothing but respect for my co-workers, as people and artists, and have apologised personally to everyone involved."

The statement of apology followed rumours that Washington would be fired from the show after the incident, something Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes says couldn't be further from the truth.

But rumours of the on-set battle's severity were further fuelled last week when Knight came out of the closet to People Magazine, saying " … there have been a few questions about my sexuality, and I'd like to quiet any unnecessary rumours that may be out there. While I prefer to keep my personal life private, I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me."

Tabloids took the quote and ran with it, speculating that because Knight was allegedly the cause of the fight after arriving to the set late to film a scene, he must have been the butt of Washington's comment-"I'm not your little faggot like (name deleted)," an onlooker claimed Washington told Dempsey.

But the cast has been quick to downplay the rumours. While appearing on Ellen last week, co-star Katherine Heigl said the incident was nothing more than a "scuffle … There was a little burst of testosterone in the room, and then within five minutes … they were totally fine."

Rhimes added that relationships between Washington and Dempsey and Washington and Knight are all fine, saying the latter "had conversations."

"They did a really great scene together the other day." The whole affair, she says, "was four and a half seconds of one day in three years. I feel like we've already moved on."

Washington was scheduled to tape an interview with Ellen DeGeneres this week, but according to People Magazine, cancelled at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict.

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