Isaiah Washington has lost his job on the hit ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” five months after creating a furor with his use of an anti-gay slur.
Washington’s contract option was not renewed for next season, series producer ABC Television Studios said Thursday.
“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,” Washington said in a statement released through his publicist, Howard Bragman. The quote is a reference to the famous line from 1976 movie Network.
He drew fire after using the anti-gay epithet backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in January while denying he’d used it previously on the set against cast mate T.R. Knight.
The May finale of “Grey’s Anatomy” opened the door for the departure of his character. Burke was on the verge of marrying Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), but her doubts at first delayed and then derailed their splashy wedding.
Later, Yang found that Burke cleared out his favorite possessions from their apartment.
