Isaiah Washington Back On 'Grey's Anatomy' - Why Did He Get Fired?

Actor Isaiah Washington has reprised his role as Dr Preston Burke on Grey's Anatomy, seven years after he was fired from the medical drama for making a homophobic slur. Thursday's episode saw him offer Sandra Oh's character Christina Yang the chance to run a hospital in Zurich - after leaving her at the alter all those years ago.

Washington exited the series in 2007 after an anti-gay epithet was reportedly directed towards co-star T.R Knight.

His character was one of the central players on the show for the first three seasons, though he was given his marching orders after the bust-up with Knight. Despite this, GLAAD - the non-governmental media monitoring organisation which promotes the image of the LGBT in the media, has praised his return to Grey's.

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"His PSA and his statements promoting marriage equality in recent years have sent a strong message of support for LGBT people," the organization said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter.

"We look forward to seeing him return to one of our favorite shows, as well as in Patrik-Ian Polk's moving film Blackbird about a young man coming out in a small Southern town."

Isaiah had initially blamed Knight for the incident and insisted the wrong man was let go. He told the Houston Chronicle in 2007,one month after he was fired, "I have to clear my name. I'll start from the beginning. I'm telling everything. So here's the truth."

Knight told chat show Ellen DeGeneres that Isaiah used the slur against him, though Washington claimed he used it during an argument with co-star Patrick Dempsey.