Gossip

Grey's Mortuary for Isaiah Washington

Jun 08 02:56pm

Isaiah Washington, who played Dr. Burke in 'Grey's Anatomy', has been fired from the hit hospital show.

Howard Bragman, Washington's agent, has confirmed that series creator Shonda Rhimes told Washington over the telephone that he was not coming back for the show's fourth season.

Having wrapped up in America, the show has spawned a spin-off, to be called 'Private Practice', set in California and featuring Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Montgomery in the leading role.

After uttering a homosexual slur toward fellow cast mate T.R. Knight, Washington's future on the show was always less than certain.

Washington raged "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it."

By comparison, Knight - who plays the super-soppy George - had previously expressed some uncertainty as to his position on the show but has now been granted a payrise for the fourth season, due to kick off towards the end of 2007 in the United States.

Are you going to miss Dr. Burke?

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27 Comments Report Abuse

11. marcvialli - Jun 09 02:25pm

shonda rhimes has to get her head out of her backside. people who take the moral high ground and say what he did was wrong, are hypocrites. whose hasnt dropped the F word referring to gays. its all they say in queer as folk! he was an integral part to the original concept of the show that made it a hit. this is sheer stupidity and pure arrogance on shondas behalf.

12. citysignsbeenleigh - Jun 09 03:25pm

The producers were probably already looking for a way to axe him... his unsolicited comment merely provided the catalyst.

13. aussiezen - Jun 09 04:00pm

too bad...his words should have been bleeped!!! with all the tools
in television, how can it happen.
love his character, too bad, he will be missed.
aussiezen, queensland australia

14. lil_hazard0uz - Jun 09 04:36pm

NOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!! wth ?! hes like one of the best characters on the show !! well, greys is going to be pretty stupid without him then

15. sandra_cimarron1 - Jun 09 04:54pm

All of the characters collectively make for great television so using an excuse like this to axe someone! SO WHAT?? Who really cares what he said! When successful series start changing the original formula of characters it has always been a big mistake and spinoffs rarely work anyway. What a shame this is happening so early in its success.

16. jaybowen2003 - Jun 09 06:33pm

Spc1969 - grow a brain!! What he did constitutes sexual harrassment. Anyone is welcome to open their big fat mouth about any subject if they want to suffer the consequences. He's entitled to his private life - but he didn't make a private comment! He announced it over a microphone and was subsequently heard by millions of people. Maybe shutting-up about it afterwards instead of constantly bringing it up wouldn't've hurt either - the moron!!!

17. chironanerdiosa - Jun 09 08:44pm

Good! I'm glad he's gone. He was such stiff dull character I never understood what Christina saw in him

18. wailinm - Jun 09 08:58pm

Isn't America the land of the free (speech, etc?) And he did apologise, right? Grey's wouldn't be the same with Burke's character gone, might degenerate into a bigger and soppier mess.

19. arebee1981 - Jun 10 12:07am

who cares really, its just a TV show. seriously people.

20. shesuwat - Jun 10 11:02am

I've never particulary liked the Burke character and I don't think it will make much difference to the show with him gone.
Whether you are for or against homosexuality though it shows that the claim to democracy is a joke, what happened to "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me" I think everyone is a little too sensitive and having made a decision to to publicy announce their sexual preference, indivisuals whichever way they might swing should ignore any narrow mind