'Grey's' actor condemned for "anti-gay slur"

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has condemned Grey's Anatomy actor Isaiah Washington's alleged use of an anti-gay slur.

The organisation has said that Washington used the word "faggot" at a backstage press conference at the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

"When Isaiah Washington uses this kind of anti-gay slur - whether on set or in front of the press - it does more than create a hostile environment for his castmates and the crew of Grey's Anatomy," said GLAAD president Neil Giuliano.

Last October, it emerged that Washington had referred to Grey's co-star T.R. Knight as a "faggot" during an argument with fellow cast member Patrick Dempsey, who plays Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepard.

T.R. Knight appeared on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show today and confirmed that Washington had used the slur.

"As Ellen pointed out in her discussion with T.R., this is a word that's used to abuse kids on school playgrounds," said Giuliano. "We also know that, tragically, this sometimes can be the last word people hear before they're attacked, beaten and possibly even killed. Washington's repeated use of it on-set and in the media is simply inexcusable."