Back in 2006, then-cast member Isaiah Washington used a queer slur against T.R. Knight, who was not yet publicly out. The incident of Washington's verbal bigotry prompted Knight to come out later that year. "I guess there have been a few questions about my sexuality, and I'd like to quiet any unnecessary rumors that may be out there," he told People. "While I prefer to keep my personal life private, I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me."
Then in 2009, Knight revealed that he also wasn't happy about the way his character was developing on the show. "My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George]. And with respect, I'm going to leave it at that," he told Entertainment Weekly (via CNN). The choice wasn't super surprising, as fans noticed Knight's general disappearance in Season 5. In the wake of "IsaiahGate," Washington was fired. Although Knight said he didn't blame showrunner Shonda Rhimes for how the situation unfolded, he did say that Rhimes wanted him to hold off on coming out. "I think she was concerned about having my statement come out so close to the [initial] event." Rhimes denied this claim, saying, "I said, 'If you want to come out, that's awesome. We'll totally support that.'" She added, "... he was concerned that he was going to come out and George would suddenly be gay ... The idea that a gay actor can't play a straight man is insulting."
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