'Grey's Anatomy' Star Isaiah Washington Retires From Hollywood, Blames 'Haters' & 'Useful Idiots'

Isaiah Washington announced that he is leaving Hollywood and retiring for good.

In a Twitter rant, the actor blamed the constant criticism he received for his role in "Grey's Anatomy" for his early retirement and said that the haters have won.

Washington expressed his gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support and promised to keep them in the loop about his future endeavors.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Washington, famous for portraying Dr. Preston Burke on the popular medical drama series "Grey's Anatomy," has announced his decision to retire from acting.

Taking to Twitter on a Friday, the two-time NAACP Image award winner shared his mixed emotions of heaviness and relief as he revealed his decision to bid farewell to the entertainment industry early in his career.

"It is with a heavy heart and a sense of relief that I am announcing my early retirement from the entertainment industry today," he tweeted.

Washington stated that he decided to retire from acting due to various reasons, but the constant criticism he received for his character in "Grey's Anatomy" was the last straw.

In his retirement message addressed to his nearly 200,000 followers on Twitter, Washington shared his thoughts and explained that he had been fighting against the negative feedback for years. Still, it appeared that the detractors, agitators, and "Useful Idiots" had triumphed.

He expressed that he was no longer interested in engaging in conversations that perpetuate division among people based on their skin color or anything hateful and politically charged.

The actor also added that he is ready to move on and focus on other areas of his life. "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," he said.

Washington shared his future plans stating that he intended to travel across the United States before what he believed could be its eventual descent into "socialism and then communism."

Despite his retirement from acting, the "True Crime" actor reassured his fans on Twitter that he will remain active and keep them updated on his "retirement shenanigans here and there."

Washington also revealed that his recent project, "Corsicana," where he played the role of Bass Reeves, was his final onscreen venture. He expressed his gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support throughout the years. He reassured them that, as a "Frederick Douglass Conservative," he would continue to be vigilant and be prepared for whatever the future holds.

Washington's blossoming career on "Grey's Anatomy" ended ahead of the long-running series' fourth season for using a homophobic slur against co-star T.R. Knight both on set and also at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards.

Despite initially denying the allegations, he later took responsibility for his actions and issued a public apology. Per Page Six, Washington expressed his regret stating, "I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help."

Following his dismissal from the show, Washington claimed that he had fulfilled all the requirements that the producers and network had requested of him.

He said, "I came back under great stress and thought I was doing the job I was hired to do. I thought that was going to speak for my future at Grey’s, but apparently, that wasn’t the same vision that the network and studio had for me."

While the incident may have led to the end of his stint on "Grey's Anatomy," he remains appreciative of his fans' support throughout his career.