Yeah, you read that right! Isaiah Washington has been fighting to clear his name for 11 years now. People may be saying why are we still talking about this? Question is why weren’t we talking about it more and why was this whole thing based on lies?
Isaiah was let go from Shondaland’s hit Grey’s Anatomy in 2007, reportedly for making homophobic comments and getting into a physical altercation with co-star Patrick Dempsey.
This week Mo’Nique and her husband, Sidney Hicks, shared an email (see below) that “fell into their hands,” detailing an ABC attorney who allegedly admitted to lying about his character, behavior and resume prior to his firing from the series, having written, “I knew we threw Isaiah Washington under the bus for Patrick Dempsey.”
I met Isaiah back when he was promoting Black Bird and I have to say I believed everything I read and wasn’t too happy to see him. Then, I started talking to him and his amazing wife. I asked him what happened on Grey’s Anatomy? At the time, he had just been asked to come back to the show for an appearance. Since meeting him, we have stayed in touch on social and I have been following his career.
After this story broke I contacted him on Twitter to ask him about what’s going down. See our conversation below.
Miz Hollywood: What started this whole string of events?
Isaiah Washington: Patrick assaulted me after I said that I didn’t need Ellen Pompeo for off camera, “I can act!” Patrick exploded and press his face into my face 3 times after I retreated the 3rd time and then he refused to stand down in front of 35 crew members. I grabbed him by the throat and pushed him out of my face demanding that he apologize. We both apologized to the crew and went on with the scene. T.R. was not on the set, but Katie Heigel was and took my cussing out Patrick as me referring to T.R. and she was the one campaigning to get me fired. The rest is history…
If I assaulted PD as the story was told, why would I be allowed to return to the scene of the alleged crime for 8 months and not be charged for assault? I will tell you why. I was defending myself and Producer Rob Corn and actor James Pickens, Jr. know this is what happened. James Pickens, Jr. was gagged and couldn’t tell the world what he saw. I NEVER arbitrarily attacked anyone. I was assaulted first by PD.
To read more about the attack and how it all started, including the famous ‘F’ word, read the transcript from Isaiah’s interview with Larry King. Patrick didn’t respect people’s time and Isaiah was upset.
MH: How did this whole thing blow up and lies get out?
IW: Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight were hoping to get Patrick Dempsey and I fired, so they could become breakout stars on the show. Shonda refused to write for both of them and that’s why they left the show. Facts. This fact explains why Dr. Burke remains alive and Izzie, George and McDreamy are dead so they can never return to GA. Punishment for their bad behavior. Chandra Wilson also knows that T.R. admitted that he lied, but she too was gagged by ABC’s Legal. Therefore leaving me to hang out to dry. They all have blood on their hands. ” says Isaiah.
Additionally, The moment I agreed to sign that mea culpa that became my death sentence and removed my right to sue ABC for releasing me from my contract. Howard Davine (Executive Vice President at ABC Studios)actually thought that by releasing me ABC was saving them money. Howard chose Patrick Dempsey over me knowing that my career would be ruined. What made Howard do that? That question should be asked of him. Was it payback? Was it retaliation? Was it racism? Either way, I’m still being harmed by HD’s decisions.”
MH: How has Devine’s actions effected you and your career:
IW: I am still being harmed by Howard Devine’s decisions, I’m stilled considered a homophobic, disruptive and violent actor released from the biggest tv show in history. I defended myself twice and was punished for it.
MH: Why was ABC protecting Patrick Dempsey and throw you under the bus?
IW: Disney needed to protect Patrick Dempsey because during this time he had his movie Enchanted coming out. They couldn’t afford him looking bad.” He also said, “People forget this, but I was hired 6 hours after being released from my ABC contract and hired by Ben Silverman at NBC to do BIONIC WOMAN. The then ABC President, Steve McPherson attacked NBC President, Ben Silverman for giving me another job. It’s all in Vanity Fair. Why was it so important to keep me unemployed even when I was released? ABC’s Howard Davine should be asked this question.”
MH: What do hope will happen now that all this has come out?
IW: I hope that Howard Davine is investigated for his hand in trying to keep me from working and providing for my family. That is something that any man in my position would want. It’s called…justice. I want my good name back after having a Whistleblower confirm that I did no wrong.
See the email that below that blew this story wide open:
Please let me know if you are comfortable with my sending the below to an executive at the network who is senior to HD. (A one time friend.) It may be pointless but perhaps not. However, I don’t want to betray your confidence or make matters worse. Therefore, please take a moment to review and let me know your thoughts. If you are not comfortable with the below, I understand.
Hi XX,
I hope that you are well. Can you please take a moment to read the below:
“I knew we threw Isaiah [Washington] under the bus for Patrick [Dempsey]. Write up [what you’ve shared with me] so that I can put it in my file so that this won’t happen again,” Jean Zoeller, Asst Gen’l Counsel, Litigation, ABC. July 2016.
The above was stated to me at the end of my conversation with Jean Zoeller regarding mischaracterizations of events that took place in 2007 (in connection with Isaiah Washington’s dismissal from Grey’s Anatomy), misconceptions regarding Isaiah’s current work history, and the current edict (due to incorrect/inaccurate information) that the studio could not hire Isaiah for The Catch. This conversation took place because ABCS casting reached out to me and asked for my help after hearing from the head of my department, Howard Davine, that Isaiah could not be hired on the show. What I disclosed was information obtained from creative and casting executives at ABC, including information provided by casting executives at The CW. I reached out to Jean as a result of my department head stating that, despite the information that I’d shared with him, corporate legal would not approve Isaiah’s hiring. I was never able to prepare the “write up.” I returned from vacation and was immediately fired.
I’m disappointed to now learn that I too have been “thrown under the bus.” In particular, a false story has been presented to Shonda Rhimes, on whose shows I worked while at ABC, to the effect that I overstepped my bounds in approving deals without her consent. Shonda recently relayed this information to another individual when describing the reason why I was terminated from ABCS. That comment is simply not true and, as discussed below, the false narrative that is being perpetuated is negatively affecting my career.
1. By way of background (and to clear up misconceptions and mischaracterizations), after repeated requests (over the course of 8 years) by Howard Davine to rejoin the ABC business affairs department, I finally agreed to do so at the end of 2015. While I had taken 6 years off from 2007-2012 to spend time with my twin boys due to a medical issue, I was consistently and successfully employed as a business affairs consultant for various companies from 2012-2015. When I accepted the offer to rejoin the ABC’s business affairs department, I had been out of law school and a working professional since 1992. I had more than a decade of experience prior to taking time off in 2007 and more than 16 years of experience upon rejoining the department.
2. While at ABC in 2016, I never made a deal that was outside of studio parameters or precedents or, if applicable, was not approved by my department head, OR gave more than Shonda Rhimes wanted to give. However, in the case of the latter, one such deal was made by my department head, Howard Davine, despite my saying that Shonda was ready to walk away. I was told, in no uncertain terms (and in writing), “who do you think you work for, me or Shonda Rhimes?” (This statement was shared with Shonda’s agent, Chris Silbermann, when I explained that – despite my “title” – I was not empowered to do as Shonda requested.)
When Howard Davine made the deal for this particular writer/producer, I assumed that Shonda Rhimes had changed her mind and had informed Howard of such. However, I subsequently learned – from Stephanie Leifer, and later confirmed by Shonda’s attorney, Michael Gendler – that that was not the case and that Shonda was quite upset by this deal. They also informed me that Shonda Rhimes had been lead to believe that the deal had been made by me. Both said that Howard should “come clean” and let Shonda know that he made the deal. It appears that this never happened – based on Shonda’s recent and incorrect statement that, in my overzealousness to please her, I made deals that went beyond what she wanted.
NOTE: While at ABCS in 2016, I simply did my job as I have always done it, following studio precedents, relying on quotes, staying within budgetary guidelines and never going beyond what a producer wanted. What was unusual was the level of resentment and hostility toward this particular producer that I encountered. What was unusual was the blatant attempt to undermine her requests and my efforts to simply do the job that I was hired to do.
3. When I was fired from ABC, I was asked to sign a release. I was told that if I signed the release, the company would say that I left because I wanted to return to consulting. (False.) I was told that if I didn’t sign the release, the company would say that I was fired due to performance issues. (Objectively, there were no performance issues. I am happy to provide the objective proof.) I did not sign the release. I did not want a payoff in exchange for my silence.
Since leaving, I have found that I have been blacklisted. Despite my experience and abilities, I am no longer employable. I hope that you will look into this. I loved my career. I valued my professional reputation. If not you, then who? In this era of “MeToo”, I ask that you please look into this and right this wrong.
Please let me know if you are able to assist, or if there is someone else that I should reach out to.
Sincerely, Kim Clayton Hershman TV Business Affairs
Leave Us Your Comments.