Sacked actor speaks out about ‘faggot’ incident - from Pink News - all the latest gay news from the gay community

Sacked actor speaks out about 'faggot' incident

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • January 25, 2007 - 12:06

Washington drew fire after using the word 'faggot' backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in January.

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Actor Isaiah Washington, fired this month from Grey's Anatomy after the months-long controversy he incited by using an anti-gay slur, claims ABC "fired the wrong guy."

In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Washington blames former cast mate T.R. Knight for stoking the scandal that led him to lose his role in the ABC hit.

Knight, who came out after the incident, is the one who should have been let go, he told the newspaper.

"I have to clear my name," Washington said.

"I'll start from the beginning. I'm telling everything. So here's the truth."

Washington, who said he is considering a lawsuit, accused Knight of exploiting the controversy in order to get a salary increase and to enhance his role, the Chronicle reports.

When contacted by Access Hollywood, a spokesman for Washington said:

"Isaiah does stand by his statement that he thinks Knight should have been fired and not him."

Washington also revealed he is considering a lawsuit over his dismissal from the show.

"I was not fired for making homophobic slurs," he added, reports Access Hollywood.

"I did everything I said I would do. I offered to go to counselling, to do a public service announcement.

"I wanted everyone to know I was remorseful… I did everything they told me to do, including not saying anything, and then they didn't renew my contract. That's not fair."

The 43-year-old actor also dismissed any notion that is homophobic.

Washington drew fire after using the word 'faggot' backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in January while denying he'd used it previously against Knight, 34, during an on-set dustup with co-star Patrick Dempsey.

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