Isaiah Washington Says Patrick Dempsey Agrees T.R. Knight Should Be Fired

• Jun 25, 2007 03:31 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Sorry, Heigl: he's still not not speaking. Though Isaiah Washington says he is "trying real hard not to incite an unnecessary war" among his former Grey's Anatomy cast mates, he has given a new interview in which he propels a claim that T.R. Knight is as much to blame for the aftermath of the October 9 on-set fracas. Washington even says that no less than "McDreamy" would concur. Positing that Knight had been "very tactical" in seeking to get Washington - if not Patrick Dempsey, as well - off the ABC drama, Washington tells gay-rights activist/BET host Keith Boykin, "I know Patrick Dempsey has supported me by stating that if there is anyone that needs to be fired, it is T.R. Knight, because he has created such a negative environment on the set." (Dempsey's publicist has not yet responded to TVGuide.com's requests for comment.)

At the crux of Knight's alleged campaign is a feeling that "he has not been treated and given the same 'leading man' kinds of story lines" as his peers playing Burke and Derek, that "[George] was being treated very caricature-ish and dopey," says Washington. Empowered by his costar's semi-private (and then very public) use of the F-word, Knight leveraged his bosses into beefing up his role. Says Washington, "That's why you see his character changing so significantly," becoming this "uber he-man that's sleeping with everyone."

Washington says that Shonda Rhimes and the Grey's brass "are not happy" about Knight's alleged tactics, and "think that something has gone awfully awry with [T.R.'s] stability." "I can freely say this now, because I am no longer a Disney employee and I am no longer gagged," Washington says. "Everyone [from] the producers all the way up to [the studio] is very disappointed in the behavior of T.R. Knight."

POLL: Do you believe there is any truth to the story that T.R. Knight used the F-word incident to get his role beefed up? Vote here.