In March 2023, Isaiah Washington stunned fans when he announced that he was bidding adieu to the acting scene. He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his decision, hinting that the relentless criticism of his “Grey’s Anatomy” character played a significant factor in nudging him out of Hollywood.
“It is with a heavy heart and a sense of relief that I am announcing my early retirement from the entertainment industry today,” he wrote. “Those who have been Following/Witnessing my journey here on Twatter since 2011 all know that I have fought the good fight, but it seems that the haters, provocateurs and the Useful Idiots have won.” He added: “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.”
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While the statement had been vague, many assumed it was about his longstanding feud with the “Grey’s” crew. In 2020, he reignited his rivalry with Katherine Heigl and expressed frustration over how she had silenced him in the past. The following year, he revealed in the book “How to Save a Life” that he was initially slated to be Ellen Pompeo’s love interest instead of Patrick Dempsey, but his being Black hit too close to home because “there’s a rumor out there or something that Ellen didn’t want me to be her love interest because she had a Black boyfriend.”
