ABC Calls ‘Grey’ Star’s Gay Slur “Unacceptable”

ABC has responded to actor Isaiah Washington?s use of a derogatory word for gay men in the Golden Globes? pressroom Monday night calling his actions ?unacceptable.?

Washington told press representatives he did not call ?Grey?s Anatomy? castmate T.R. Knight a ?f*gg*t? during a scuffle on the set with Patrick Dempsey late last year. His use of the word on Monday though has thrown heat on the television star who plays Dr. Preston Burke on the popular show.

?We have a long 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,? ABC said in a statement issued just moments ago. ?Therefore,? they added, ?we are greatly dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, language that he himself deemed ?unfortunate? in his previous public apology. We take this situation very seriously . His actions are unacceptable and are being addressed.?

Washington?s use of the term has caught him flack from a host of sources including castmate Katherine Heigl, Dr. Izzie Stevens on the show, who questioned his use of the word at the Globes.

?I don’t think he means the way he comes off, do you know what I mean?? Heigl told Access Hollywood. ?But,? she continued ?T.R.‘s my best friend. I will throw down for that kid, I will beat you up. I will use every ounce of energy I have to take you down if you hurt his feelings.?

More recently however the controversy has escalated with celebrity blogger and gay man Perez Hilton calling for the firing of Washington. ?ABC?s reluctance to remove the toxic Washington from ‘Grey?s Anatomy’ is disgusting and inherently homophobic,? he posted.

Hilton said he plans to boycott ABC, not mentioning their network, their stars or taking advertising revenue from them.

?This saddens us, because we know we?re gonna wanna (sic) talk about Rosie or ‘Ugly Betty,’ ? he posted. ?But, we gotta stand by our convictions.?

GLAAD, also issued a statement condemning Washington saying when he ?uses this kind of anti-gay slur . . . it does more than create a hostile environment for his castmates and the crew of ?Grey?s Anatomy.? It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm?s way.?

Washington told Access Hollywood backstage at the Globes he never used the word during the Dempsey fracas last year. He also noted he won favor from gay rights activist, Cher and Sonny Bono?s daughter, Chastity for a movie role he took on, on a related note.

?I almost got fired from Spike Lee on ?Get On The Bus? for playing a gay character as a man, a gay republican ex-marine strong man on ?Get On The Bus,? he told Access cameras at the Globes. ?Chastity Bono made me the GLAAD posterboy for three years after that role.?

As of press time representatives for both Isaiah Washington and ?Grey?s Anatomy? had no comment on the matter.

Katherine Heigl’s Words To Isaiah