ABC Sends Isaiah Washington To GayHab

Just two days after meeting with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network to begin the long, arduous process of personally apologizing to every advocacy group listed in his publicist's "What To Do When A Client Outs A Popular Co-Star In A Fit Of Rage, Then Runs Around Repeating Anti-Gay Slurs Backstage At A Globally Covered Awards Show" crisis management file, Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington is already moving on to the next step in the rehabilitation process that may allow him to keep his job: the obligatory trip to a treatment facility where he can hide out until some of the career-hampering controversy dies down. Reports Life & Style (exclusively!):

Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington has entered a residential treatment facility in an effort to quell the controversy surrounding his anti-gay remarks -- and save his job, Life & Style has learned exclusively.

According to an insider, Isaiah, who issued an apology for his statements on Jan. 18, agreed to undergo a psychological assessment after talks with ABC executives.

The married 43-year-old father of three was spotted entering the facility at 9 a.m. today (Jan. 24). [...]

"ABC has told him he must enter a program to examine why he would say such hateful words," the insider says.

The report fails to mention what kind of "residential treatment facility" the actor entered or what's involved in his network-ordered rehabilitation program, but we assume that even after Washington demonstrates to ABC's satisfaction that he has learned to love and accept his homosexual co-stars, he'll only be allowed on set when accompanied by a Gay-Tolerant Companion who can step in and help him fight the urge to backslide into his old habits the first time T.R. Knight blows a line and ruins a great take.

UPDATE: Us Weekly has statements from both Washington and Grey's showrunner Shonda Rhimes; Washington says he's "begun counseling," while Rhimes "applauds" his "realization that he needs help and his subsequent choice to seek immediate treatment for his behavioral issues."

 

The Inevitable "T.R. Knight Is Considering Quitting 'Grey's'" Rumor

While his Grey's Anatomy co-star Isaiah Washington is currently excising his bullying demons in a 28-day gay-rage detoxification program, an unnamed "source" tells The Scoop that Ellen-tattling slur-victim T.R. Knight is still so incensed over the way the events were handled, he's plotting to depart the hit series:

The actor was the subject of a widely-publicized homophobic slur by a cast mate and he "is so upset about the situation and so disgusted by how it was all handled," that he's planning to leave the show, says a source.

"He was told not to say anything about the whole incident," says the insider. "He feels that the atmosphere there is so toxic and unhealthy...I suppose things could change and we would stay, but for now, he's planning to leave the show."