In the latest step on his celebrity road to redemption, Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington announced Wednesday he is undergoing treatment to transform his "negative actions into positive results," he said in a statement.
Washington, 43, has been on the hot seat since October when reports surfaced that he used a gay slur to describe co-star T.R. Knight on the set of the hit ABC show.
Last week, he repeated the slur at the Golden Globes even as he denied using it originally. This was followed by a stern statement from ABC and a written apology from Washington. But in the meantime, thousands of fans had signed an online petition demanding Washington's ouster. Meetings with gay-rights groups didn't quell the public fury. On Wednesday, the married father of three entered an inpatient facility for psychological counseling (not for alcohol or substance abuse).
The embattled prime-time star is the latest person to become so embroiled in a scandal that he had but one choice to redeem himself and save his career: well-publicized professional treatment.
Mel Gibson, Miss USA Tara Conner and Lindsay Lohan are some recent examples of the check-in trend. Gibson, Lohan and Conner checked in for alcohol abuse. Michael Richards is getting therapy for racist remarks made at a comedy club, and Nicole Richie got treatment to try to gain weight.
Rehab has gone far beyond drug and alcohol abuse these days. And not only does it help heal, it's the ultimate image fix for stars.
"Any kind of formal treatment validates their contrition," says image expert Evangelia Souris of the Boston-based Optimum International Center for Image Management.
But has it become overused? A longtime respected approach to battling serious substance abuse, rehab centers for the stars are like five-star getaways "” often in beautiful settings, offering gourmet foods and personal training programs.
Last year, at least one celebrity went in rehab every month except November. Wynonna Judd went for food addiction, Rush Limbaugh for painkillers, Robin Williams and Keith Urban for alcohol.
Rehab is a typical way of dealing with society's obsession with quick fixes. Why diet if we can just get surgery? Why save and buy something when we can charge it?
Russ Newman, a clinical psychologist and lawyer with the American Psychological Association based in Washington, D.C., says behavior is learned over a period of time and can't be altered by going to a professional for a quick fix. "Changing behavior isn't easy and takes some time," he says. "It may very well mean unlearning a behavior and learning a new, healthier or more effective behavior."
However, Souris points out, inpatient treatment does one very important thing for Washington: It's an opportunity for him to disappear from the public eye for some time while the wounds heal.
Washington's spokeswoman, Kelly Mullens, declined to discuss terms of his treatment. But he is said to be undergoing intensive counseling through Monday and is expected to continue outpatient counseling following his release from the undisclosed facility.
He is scheduled to return to the Grey's set Tuesday. A network spokesman said production of the show will not be affected because his scenes were shot over the past few days in anticipation of his departure. And so far, viewership has not been affected by the lingering controversy. Grey's Anatomy's season-to-date average: 18.8 million viewers.
But for Washington, it was a move he had to make. In his statement, he said he regarded "this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again."
Washington, who plays Dr. Preston Burke on the show, became embroiled in controversy for making the homophobic remark about Knight during an on-set argument with co-star Patrick Dempsey last October.
Knight, 33, publicly announced that he is gay soon after the incident.
The controversy was reignited Jan. 15 at the Golden Globes; after Washington's denial and repetition of the slur, public reactions from Knight and co-star Katherine Heigl fanned the anger.
After issuing his apology last Thursday, Washington met with gay-rights groups Monday to discuss plans for helping to educate the public about the cruelty of such words.
Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of Grey's, met with the rest of the cast on Wednesday to discuss the matter and then released a statement saying that all the producers found Washington's use of "such a disturbing word" to be a "shocking and dismaying event that insulted not only gays and lesbians everywhere but anyone who has ever struggled for respect in a world that is not always accepting of difference."
She added that the Grey's "family," along with ABC and the Touchstone Television studio, has been working to address the issue "while giving us all a foundation for healing."
She also thanked fans for supporting the show, "particularly during this stressful time."
RE: counceling & therapy ...... for using a word ?
He doesn't want to lose his high-paying position on a hit cast. So he does whatever the PR man tells him to do. The workings of Hollywood are pretty straight forward.
RE: counceling & therapy ...... for using a word ?
Quote:
This is INSANE
Have to agree Buster.Whats truly sad is this craps even newsworthy.One guy called another guy a ******, big deal, either beat the **** out of each other or get over it and move on.Cant agree with a coworker, boo hoo, either quit or ignore them, thats what the rest of us have to do.Used to be you had to buy the National Enquirer to read things like this, now its worthy of CNN coverage.
As an alcoholic myself I cant believe the milage these celebs get out of "going to treatment".Id rather support an actor that called someone a name and stuck by it then one who apologizes over and over publicly and then hides out in a re-hab center for a couple months till it blows over.Every time one of them makes a remark they were under the influence and didnt mean anything by it, treating alcoholism/drug abuse to cure bigotry isnt a cure, its a joke.You got anger issues, see a shrink, dont go to a 5 star club and pretend your trying to change, its just a way to save face.Pathetic[:'(]
RE: counceling & therapy ...... for using a word ?
Ridiculous. Apparently now it's a sickness for people to think that homosexual acts are disgusting. Guess I'll go take a couple aspirins. I'm not feeling well.
RE: counceling & therapy ...... for using a word ?
Quote:
ORIGINAL: ipscshooter
Ridiculous. Apparently now it's a sickness for people to think that homosexual acts are disgusting. Guess I'll go take a couple aspirins. I'm not feeling well.
shall we presume you're terminal? I cantake up a collection and forward it to the widow jpscs?
RE: counceling & therapy ...... for using a word ?
Had to figure that one out... You mean Saltine? As in cracker? Wow. I can't believe that one is filtered. There are many legitimate uses for the word. I like those little oyster crackers with my clam chowder.
Location: land of the Lilliputians, In the state of insanity
Posts: 24,185
RE: counceling & therapy ...... for using a word ?
Quote:
ORIGINAL: ipscshooter
Had to figure that one out... You mean Saltine? As in cracker? Wow. I can't believe that one is filtered. There are many legitimate uses for the word. I like those little oyster crackers with my clam chowder.
Opps, Ill have to go back and correct that. [&o]
__________________
kaafir mushrik
Unintended consequences and God have one thing in common: Liberals don’t believe in either of them.
counceling & therapy ...... for using a word ?
I cantake up a collection and forward it to the widow jpscs?
