Posted on 01/24/2007 3:27:18 PM PST by Millee
Isaiah Washington, who does the healing as a doctor on "Grey's Anatomy," is the patient now.
He's in therapy for his use of an anti-gay slur against a castmate.
"With the support of my family and friends, I have begun counseling. I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again," Washington said in a statement Wednesday. "I appreciate the fact that I have been given this opportunity and I remain committed to transforming my negative actions into positive results, personally and professionally."
Washington took a break from filming Tuesday to meet with gay rights activists and offer help in educating the public about the cruelty of such words, an offer the activists called sincere.
Whether Washington was receiving outpatient counseling or had entered a facility was not specified, and the statement did not indicate whether he would miss work on the show.
Washington's publicist, Kelly Mullens, declined to comment further. A call to ABC about the effect on production of the hit TV show was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Series creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes issued her own statement, at once criticizing Washington for his use of the word "faggot" about co-star T.R. Knight and lauding Washington's decision to seek help.
"I speak for all the executive producers here at 'Grey's Anatomy' when I say that Isaiah Washington's use of such a disturbing word was a shocking and dismaying event that insulted not only gays and lesbians everywhere, but anyone who has ever struggled for respect in a world that is not always accepting of difference," Rhimes said.
She said she's been working within "the 'Grey's' family" and with ABC and the Touchstone Television studio to address the issue "in a way that underscores the gravity of the situation while giving us all a foundation for healing."
"We applaud and encourage Isaiah's realization that he needs help and his subsequent choice to seek immediate treatment for his behavioral issues," Rhimes said.
She expressed appreciation to fans during this "stressful time" and said those involved with the show would continue to "make the best television we can."
It was during an on-set quarrel last October with co-star Patrick Dempsey that Washington reportedly used the slur about Knight, who was not present. Although Washington apologized publicly at the time, the issue boiled up again at the Jan. 15 Golden Globes when he denied using the epithet.
After being criticized last week by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and ABC, Washington issued an apology.
He met Tuesday with the heads of GLAAD and Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, who said Washington agreed to efforts to fight bias but that no specifics were reached.
ABC and Touchstone Television are owned by Walt Disney Co.
Chilling.
He's in therapy for his use of an anti-gay slur against a castmate.
Wasn't too long ago the Homo would be in therapy........
He's crazy for thinking he's crazy.
Gotta cure those nasty opinions.
"Amoral",OTOH......
"Needs to get his mind right"........who said that, HITLER?
Man oh man . . . I thought I was jaded, but this scares me to the marrow of my bones!
What?! I guess the Gaystapo are getting what they want. And when folks won't volunteer for "therapy", they will push for laws so they can be "compelled" to be "re-educated". Sick.
I remember when William F. Buckley called Gore Vidal a "faggot" and threatened to punch him out on live TV when they were in a booth covering one of the party conventions back in the Sixties. This right after Vidal called Buckley a "crypto Nazi".
Nobody got sent to a reeducation camp over it. Saner times...
You sound like a global warming heretic.
This is a bad precedent. Usually, after something like this the offender says he has a substance abuse problem and goes into rehab, and everyone is "happy." Now, people are going to get sent away for how they think, and opinions will become "behavioral issues" and then crimes.
John Rocker was pushed into "therapy" several years ago when he complained about not being able to hear an American voice when he walked down the street.
Before long,....government installed chips in everyones brain to search for thought crimes. No words, no utterences, just the thought will be enough to throw you into a "re-education" camp.
Unless you're black, gay or female. They can't possibly be any type of bigot.
I agree. This really is scary. I am so afraid that we are going to lose the cultural war.
Well Isaiah is black so I think everyone would have the chips. His dislike of gays trumped his blackness so he's got to go reeducation camp.
Next year it will probably be some poor soul who speaks out against bestiality. He'll be brought to court by NAMSLA (North American Man Stallion Love Association). His therapy will consist of repeated viewings of the sequel to Brokeback Mountain, in which pool hustler Robert Redford makes an indecent proposal to Jake Gyllenhaal -- a million dollars if he can sleep with his horse.
Silly me...guess it wouldn't generate headlines or busine$$ for shrinks...
Wonder when they'll start locking up all Republicans in Hollyweird for thoughtcrime and political re-education.
There is a blacklist in Hollywood. The Commies ain't skeered.
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