Isaiah Washington, who played a cardiothoracic surgeon in the medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy was booted from the show in a series of controversial circumstances back in its day. The character, who appeared in the pilot and remained in the main cast until season three was one that had a lot of impact on story character development for other main characters like Christina Yang, his rivalry with everyone in the OR, and how he managed to build up character in the becoming of tough surgeons around him.
But as it turns out, off stage, Isaiah Washington had a rough coworker relationship with Patrick Dempsey and T.R Knight which resulted in him using a homophobic slur against Knight in 2007. This sparked immense public outcry, causing Washington to be fired from the show shortly after. What was exactly the slur, and what were the circumstances? Let’s jump into the time machine with Doc Brown and Marty McFly, go back in time, and find out what happened.
What Was Dr. Preston Burke’s Story Arc In Grey’s Anatomy Like?
In the beginning, Dr. Burke was portrayed as a highly-skilled cardiothoracic surgeon who took his work seriously and was often seen as cold and distant towards his colleagues. He initially had a rivalry and conflicted professional relationship with Dr. Meredith Grey, due to her inexperience and perceived lack of respect for the field of surgery.
However, as the show progressed, Dr. Burke’s character began to soften and show more vulnerability. He developed a romantic relationship with Dr. Cristina Yang, one of his surgical residents, which eventually led to an engagement. Their relationship was often fraught with tension due to their differing beliefs and values, particularly when it came to religion. He eventually married another character, some
One of the most significant moments in Dr. Burke’s character arc occurred towards the end of season 3 when he was shot in the arm by a former patient. Following the incident, Dr. Burke’s surgical abilities were temporarily compromised, and he struggled to come to terms with the possibility that he might never operate again. This led to a crisis of confidence and a reevaluation of his priorities, particularly his relationship with Dr. Yang.
Also Read: What Episode Do Derek and Meredith Get Back Together In Grey’s Anatomy? Answered
Why Was Isaiah Washington Fired From Grey’s Anatomy?
Isaiah Washington’s character Dr Burke was written off as having moved to another hospital and his presence eventually faded from the main plot of the series, leaving a big hole in the show’s overall narrative. While Isaiah Washington was not officially fired from Grey’s Anatomy, it is widely believed that his tumultuous relationship with cast and crew members forced him off the show. In 2007, he reportedly got into a heated argument with Patrick Dempsey, which resulted in some negative press coverage and ultimately led to Washington leaving the show.
Washington and Dempsey started to argue, and the discussion dragged on during several shoots, until one day one of them was late for the recording of the episode, and things imploded, they started to argue, then they got into a fistfight, Washington felt dissed about Dempsey being late, went after him, shoved him in the back threw a couple of punches with Dempsey against a wall and apparently called Dempsey “a little f***ing fa***t that couldn’t talk to him like he did with T.R.” in reference to T.R. Knight’s sexual preferences.
Then It Was The Golden Globes
But that wasn’t the end of it, because at the 2007 Golden Globes ceremony the matter was brought up, and Washington denied calling T.R. a “fa****”. Then Katherine Heigl evaded questions from the press about it. Eventually, the story was recollected in a book penned by Lynette Rice titled “How To Save A Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy”.
In the end, Washington’s bad temper and bravado cost him the job, leaving a plothole in the Grey’s Anatomy story arc, but eventually, the show had so much traction that other story arcs popped up and eventually rose to become the cultural icon and global reputation that it has now.
