More from Isaiah

[SCBWannabe]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 3:43pm

From Newsweek:
Isaiah Plays The Race Card

The fired Grey’s Anatomy star tells the magazine:

“Patrick [Dempsey] and I had a philosophical disagreement that got out of hand and that I regret a great deal. I said a lot of negative things that were never reported, but there was one word that caught everyone’s attention, particularly someone who wasn’t even in the room with us. It was a fight between two men that shouldn’t have happened. But someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me. I see that now, but I didn’t then.”

“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.”

“I thought them sending me meant they actually wanted me to succeed and come out on the other end. There is no rehab for homophobia—that was just some crap being put out by the network. I went into an executive counseling program which many people in this industry know about and go to. They knew what the program was but chose to call it what they wanted to fit their agenda. And more importantly, I volunteered for it because I wanted to understand my fight with Patrick and how it got out of hand like that. I wanted to know what I could do to avoid it happening again.”

“Growing up in the South, I wasn’t exposed to as many different lifestyles and personalities as I could have been. And that’s always a problem, because the more you’re exposed, clearly the more you know and understand. My mother had several cross-dressing friends who she sometimes referred to with names I’d never use, but she didn’t know any better. There was no hate, just lack of awareness.”

“Well, it didn’t help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn’t a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn’t speak like I’d just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime. I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that ’some people’ were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I’m a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn’t go around saying ‘Yessah, massa sir’ and ‘No sir, massa’ to everyone? It’s nuts when your presence alone can just scare people, and that made me a prime candidate to take the heat in a dysfunctional family.’’

“My mistake was believing that I would get the support from my network and all of my cast mates across the board. My mistake was believing I could correct a wrong with honesty and sincerity. My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts.”

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 3:45pm

christ. i thought this was going to be about the knicks pulling off a deal whereby they traded everybody on their team and sent $100m to portland for oden.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 3:48pm

Oh, poor widdle Isaiah. He REALLY needs to drop the martyr act.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 3:49pm

"I didn’t speak like I’d just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime."


oh my...that's funny!

[chicolini]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 3:50pm

Me too, papa, but sub Kobe for Oden. Forgot what board I was on for a moment there.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 3:51pm

What a sad and angry man he is! I do appreciate his anger at not being treated honestly by his employer-- It does seem unfair to put him through all that "Reahab" then fire him. Although, he seems like he undermined every attempt to rehabilitate himself at every step of the way. They would have been completely justified in saying "We gave Isiah Washington every chance to change his attitude and move on, but his repeated sniping in the press shows us that he is, and continues to be, unrepentant and refuses to cooperate with producers, so we have no choice but terminate his contract."

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:41pm

Rehabilitate himself? ARE we in Cuba?

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:50pm

There is no rehab for homophobia—that was just some crap being put out by the network.

wow- there's a sentence of truth in his ramblings...I might faint from the shock.

(and I've occasionally thought that Isaiah sounded like a mushmouth, actually- but nothing to do with him being Black, just with him not enunciating.)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:52pm

I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that ’some people’ were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I’m a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn’t go around saying ‘Yessah, massa sir’ and ‘No sir, massa’ to everyone?

Um...no, Isaiah. Because you are bat-**** crazy and grab microphones at public events and say stupid ****. THAT'S why people are scared of you.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:58pm

I don't think we're in Cuba--

I simply meant that obviously there was a problem- arguing with a co-worker, calling a co-worker names, inappropriate anger. He agreed to change that behaviour, but didn't and in fact, was confrontational in public and expressed no remorse or regret. From an HR standpoint he had to go. When you ask an employee to change unexceptable behaviour and he refuses to change, something's gotta give.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:59pm

What I really find amusing is his very words are perpetuating the stereotype he feels his detractors have set upon him. Too bad Homey the clown is still not on the air - Mr. Washington needs a job.

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:00pm

Oh, and...he wasn't fired, his contract was not renewed! Big difference!!

Ok, maybe not big to him, considering that he's jobless either way, but hot damn you'd think he was having to go all Norma Rae and make the workplace safe for people and getting tossed out on his ass by the anti-union bosses or something, what with the way he's been carrying on.

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:00pm

My mother had several cross-dressing friends who she sometimes referred to with names I’d never use, but she didn’t know any better. There was no hate, just lack of awareness.”

So T.R. Knight is a cross-dresser now?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:05pm

no but it's just a matter of time before the teen cross dressing pics of isaiah "come out."

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:09pm

Our culture does have an unfortunate tendency to force people to "pay their debts to society" for their missteps and crimes, and then to continue their punishment even after they've done their time.

4.7 million Americans are unable to vote because of prior felony convictions. Countless (literally) level one and above sex offenders are rendered unemployable and unhouseable even after serving their prison terms and consequently live in homeless shelters and on the streets. Criminal record checks on potential employees help make it possible that poor people who break the law will remain poor so long as they cannot draw a paycheck.

In so many instances there is no chance for redemption, which, at least theoretically, used to be the whole point.

[Anakela]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:19pm

Namo- so speaking of felons not being allowed to vote, what are your thoughts on felons not being allowed to serve jury duty? I've been in the room twice to get selected for jury duty, but never been picked, and I've always wondered how come if you're supposed to be judged by "a jury of your peers" when you're on trial, that convicted felons aren't allowed to serve on the jury...


Not that I think any of this has any bearing on Isaiah, though- if I choked one coworker, and used that language against another, I'd consider myself lucky if I was allowed to pack up my things before being gently escorted out of the building, let alone then *repeating* my insults at a workplace function. But that's mostly because I am grown, and have a small idea of how the workplace works, so I don't need the redemption of a do-over to tell me not to choke my coworkers.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:21pm

Yes, but we're talking about actors, not grown ups.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:22pm

watch it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:41pm

I know. I was hoping you weren't on even as I typed.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 5:53pm

As Fran Leibowtiz once said "The phrase Child Actor is redundant."

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:21pm

What is Isaiah's favorite Star Trek movie?

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:27pm

oh Isiah......throwing out the race card????
What a truly screwed-up individual you are if you think anyone will buy that.......especially as an excuse for bigotry. Moron....truly you are one big moron.


But someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me. I see that now, but I didn’t then.”

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.”


“Growing up in the South, I wasn’t exposed to as many different lifestyles and personalities as I could have been.

“Well, it didn’t help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn’t a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn’t speak like I’d just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime. I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that ’some people’ were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I’m a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn’t go around saying ‘Yessah, massa sir’ and ‘No sir, massa’ to everyone? It’s nuts when your presence alone can just scare people, and that made me a prime candidate to take the heat in a dysfunctional family.’’

My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts.”

[Evan Almighty]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:38pm

Updated On: 6/28/07 at 07:38 PM

[Kringas]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:44pm

My god, you are a douche.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:45pm

What a mature post.