By Sonia Horon For Dailymail.Com and Adam Levy For Dailymail.com
00:25 04 Mar 2023, updated 15:51 04 Mar 2023
Isaiah Washington is saying goodbye to Hollywood and blaming the ‘haters’ for it.
The Grey’s Anatomy alum, 59, took to Twitter on Tuesday with a lengthy statement announcing his early retirement and letting fans know that his film Corsicana may be his final acting project.
‘It is with a heavy heart and a sense of relief that I am announcing my early retirement from the entertainment industry today,’ the actor – who was fired from Grey’s Anatomy in 2007 after allegedly using a gay slur against costar T.R. Knight – wrote.
‘Those who have been Following/Witnessing my journey here on Twa***r since 2011 all know that I have fought the good fight, but it seems that the haters, provocateurs and the Useful Idiots have won.’
The Texas-born star also shared his post-retirement plans: ‘I’m no longer interested in the back and forth regarding a “color construct” that keeps us human beings divided nor am I interested in politics or anything vitriolic. I will be traveling this great country before it falls into Socialism and then Communism.’
‘Until then, know that this Frederick Douglass Conservative will keep his powder dry and loves you all!’
Washington went on to add: ‘I am truly grateful for your support over the years. It looks like CORSICANA #CorsicanaMovie may be the last time you see me as an Actor born here in America.’
He wrapped up his statement writing: ‘Just know that I will be posting a few pictures of my retirement shenanigans here and there, but until then. Be safe out there. Your loved ones love you and need you. SALUTE!’
Isaiah stars as Bass Reeves in the 2022 film Corsicana, which he says will be his last. He also directed and wrote the feature.
The film follows former slave turned U.S. marshal who tracks an outlaw gang of killers to Corsicana, Texas. The thriller also stars Lew Temple, Stacey Dash and Noel Gugliemi.
Washington rose to fame playing the highly skilled cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Preston Burke on Grey’s Anatomy.
He was an original cast member of the show, but was fired in 2007 following three seasons, after being accused of using a homophobic slur in reference to co-star T. R. Knight – who later came out as gay – while arguing with co-star Patrick Dempsey on set.
He later denied using the term as a slur, and claimed he instead told Patrick to stop treating him like an ‘F-word’, which he said meant ‘somebody who is being weak and afraid to fight back.’
In 2021 Isaiah opened up about his experiences on the Grey’s Anatomy set, and what he said were many toxic elements in play involving key figures on the ABC medical drama, in particular former leading man Patrick Dempsey.
He spoke on KBLA Talk 1580 radio show saying that his firing ‘was an agenda to cover up for the toxic and bad behavior of many of my former castmates on that show … and the top of that would be Patrick Dempsey.’
Washington said that his tension with Dempsey, 57, was initially based on finances.
‘I was the highest paid person on that show, next to Patrick Dempsey,’ he said. ‘Apparently, it got out, so there was a lot of resentment. I understand that but it was based on my roles and my resume. I can’t help that.
‘He was called Pilot Poison. No one wanted him on the show. They wanted Rob Lowe,’ he added.
As of the incident involving T. R. Knight, 49, Washington said Knight was not present when he used the offensive phrase, and that the story with Dempsey was twisted to make him look bad.
‘It went from us having a brawl, which was never a brawl, to me saying something about T.R.,’ Washington said, adding that he was ‘coerced to apologize’ to keep his spot on the hit show.
In 2014, he reflected on his experiences on the show and said: ‘I don’t worry about whether or not the stories I tell will destroy my acting career, because you can’t take away something that doesn’t exist. They killed the actor [in me] on June 7, 2007.’
