[Bring back Preston Burke/Isaiah Washington!]

Isaiah Washington Criticizes Brooke Smith Firing

Posted on November 10th, 2008 1:47 PM by iheartizzie
Filed under: Isaiah Washington, Brooke Smith

Former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington - who was let go from the show after the end of the third season in mid-2007 (amid allegations of making homophobic slurs about gay co-star T.R. Knight) - is slamming the show for its recent firing of Brooke Smith.

"I looked at a brilliant actress, whom I have adored since I first saw her in Silence of the Lambs," Washington says in the November 17 issue of TV Guide.

"For her to be treated this way, I find very interesting."

After Brooke Smith was let go, Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes released a statement last week insisting she "was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian" and did not think the "chemistry with Brooke's character would sustain in the long run."

Regardless, Isaiah Washington says the move was harsh.

Regardless, Isaiah Washington says the move was harsh.

"The fact is that, just before the holidays, you have a mother, a wonderful actress removed from a steady income without the proper reasoning behind it," he said.

"You look at the way another consummate professional [is] being treated because her character, her story line [has] potentially made producers uncomfortable."

He says Shonda Rhimes is getting the raw deal.

"Now that I see what they're doing to a show that I love and I care about, I think it's disgusting," Isaiah Washington said. "The fact that Shonda has been put in this position is extremely unfair. It's unfortunate because it was probably, at the time, the most progressive show on television. Now I see it [being] systematically torn apart."

How can the show be fixed?

"Bring Burke back!" Washington says.

Would he return to the show, despite all the drama? "Absolutely!"

THIS IS CRAZY NEWS!!! AGAIN.. A LITTLE LATE ON MY PART BUT ITS QUITE RECENT CONSIDERING IT WAS POSTED ON NOVEMBER. YES, YES I KNOW HE MIGHT'VE CAME ACROSS AS MANIPULATING THE SITUATION TO HIS OWN BENEFIT BUT STILL! I think maybe ABC might be abit hyprocritical. First they caved when GLAAD came down on them about firing Isaiah Washington for saying the word "faggot" although in what context we're all not entirely sure. And now they're firing/letting go of Brooke Smith because obviously they were uncomfortable with the character's storyline but brushed it off by saying something else. Isn't it kind of contradicting on their part? They fire an actor for supposedly being homophobic and now they're again firing an actress for acting the part of a lesbian. I admit that I don't really like that Dr Hahn character because she was just evil towards Cristina but if we consider the fact that she's being directed to act as such, Brooke really did a great job. What rubbish is this?! Its totally unfair to everyone involved, including the fans. As if we haven't suffered enough already with Isaiah being let go, you have to drop another bomb on us by firing Brooke. Jeez ABC. You guys should really get your act together. Us fans cannot be sufferring for your little issues with homosexuality and the like.

That said, BRING BACK DR PRESTON BURKE/ISAIAH WASHINGTON BACK ALREADY! Jeez.