ISAIAH WASHINGTON "MAD AS HELL" AT BEING FIRED FROM 'GREY'S ANATOMY'

In what many are speculating is a direct result of his homophobic rant and outing of co-star T.R Knight, Isaiah Washington has been let go from his top-rated TV drama.

E! News reports:

ABC Television Studio confirmed to E! News Thursday that Isaiah Washington will not be returning to Grey's Anatomy this fall.

Publicist Howard Bragman said that Washington got a call earlier in the day informing him that he was "not invited back to the show next season," prompting this Network-inspired statement from the 43-year-old actor:
"I’m mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore."

While execs refused to acknowledge whether the proverbial demise of Dr. Preston Burke was a direct result of Washington's off-camera difficulties this year, people close to the situation have been saying that not only was ABC peeved about the negative publicity the actor attracted this season but he also has exhibited a pattern of difficult behavior on the set.

Actually, considering how angry ABC seemed right after Washington uttered an antigay slur backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in January—while denying he had ever called costar T.R. Knight such a thing last October during an argument with Patrick Dempsey—it was surprising that Washington lasted as long as he did.

So, it almost makes the studio's decision not to re-up his contract a surprise, considering he hadn't been tossed thus far.

Washington's use of the offensive epithet at the Globes prompted indignation and outrage from the network, gay rights groups, Grey's fans and the actor's colleagues, including Katherine Heigl, who suggested earlier this year that her fellow TV doc should just keep his mouth shut.

After a public apology, a sit-down with GLAAD and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, a stint in counseling to work out his issues and an appearance in a PSA that aired just a couple of weeks ago, it seemed as if the fallout from Washington's screwup had finally settled.

Heigl, for one, said in Entertainment Weekly earlier this month that she was willing to let bygones be bygones.