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Actor T.R. Knight from the Golden Globe winning "Grey's Anatomy" makes his first appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" today, January 17, 2007.
T.R. discussed with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, for his first one-on-one interview, his choice to publicly come out and the factors that led him to make that decision and how it was recently brought up again at the Golden Globe awards.
Ellen talks about the incident on the "Grey's Anatomy" set early this fall with T.R Knight ...
Ellen: So here's the thing. Some of you may know the story, some of you may
not know the story.
Ellen: How long ago did this happen?
T.R.: Early October
Ellen: So Patrick Dempsey and Isaiah Washington are on the set. A scene is
about to start and they start getting in a fight and words..
T.R: Not because I was late.
Ellen: And Isaiah Washington says what to Patrick Dempsey?
T.R: He referred to me as a faggot.
Ellen: As a faggot?
T.R: Yes
Ellen: So you're around the corner and hear this?
T.R: It's an awesome word isn't it? (joking)
Ellen: It is. It really is unbelievable. It's bad enough in school yards that happens but, grown men
T.R.: Everyone heard it.
Ellen: He said this horrible, hateful word and it puts you in this position because your weren't out and then everyone on the set is hearing this and then you …
T.R: I was under no delusions.. my friends on the set knew. We talked about it.. they knew. I was not under any delusion that they didn't know but I
think publicly it's not my thing to like call up People Magazine and be like hey you want to know something about me? You know, I think when it happened
the incident) I've never been called it and you know you go through things in life and you lose friends when you go through the process whatever your journey is but I've never been called that to my face. So, I think when that happened something shifted and it became bigger you know what I mean, then myself. I look to people like you (Ellen) and it's April right almost ten years (when Ellen came out) to your bravery and others people's bravery and your just really grateful for that because I could've just let it slide and not said anything but it became important.
Ellen: And it became a thing in the press because of the fight
T.R: To say something, It became important to make the statement…
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On the recent Golden Globe incident
Ellen: And then the other night at the Golden Globes I guess Isaiah Washington starting up the whole thing up again which is kind of crazy…
T.R.: Yeah, he denied that he said it (faggot)..I don't know what to say…really about that.
Ellen: I don't either, other than it seems like at this point and time we should not say hateful words to one another and we should all learn…
Ellen: I just wish you continued success and that this is out of the way and that people stop saying hateful things to one another or just using that word is dangerous.
T.R.: It is and I don't know what to say about it but it's pretty bad..
Ellen: But I'm proud of you, you're a brave guy.
T.R.: But, thanks to you.. it was ten years ago... but it just made all the difference in the world..
Ellen: It was a different time and things are getting better.
T.R: I was recently watching some of your interviews from that time and it was just .. It was so..I'm losing me words and I apologize it's just very moving and it just meant so much.
Ellen: Well, what your doing is going to mean something to other people that are seeing that because you're an amazing guy, so I'm proud of you.
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Check your local listings for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in your area.
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source:
Melissa Little
'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'
melissa.little@telepixtv.com