Did you think the Isaiah Washington controversy on the set of “Grey’s Anatomy” was over and done with?
Think again.
The reported on-set blow-up between Washington and co-star Patrick Dempsey in October came up again in the Golden Globes press room Monday night, where the cast was answering questions after the show won for best TV drama, Us Weekly reports. Some reports about the October scuffle claimed that Washington used a slur to refer to co-star T.R. Knight, who later announced he is gay.
When a reporter at the Globes asked Washington about the incident, he said: “No, I did not call T.R. a [slur against homosexuals]. Never happened, never happened.”
That raised the ire of “Grey’s” star Katherine Heigl, who vented in a backstage interview with “Access Hollywood.”
“I’m going to be really honest right now, he needs to just not speak in public. Period,” Heigl told interviewer Shaun Robinson.
Washington also spoke to “Access Hollywood,” saying: “There is no way I could do anything so vile, and so horrible, not only to a castmate, but to a fellow human being.”
Knight, who said soon after the October fracas that he is gay, appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” Tuesday to discuss the original incident and Washington’s recent comments.
“He referred to me as a [slur against homosexuals]. Everyone heard it,” Knight said of the squabble.
Couple alert?
Renee Zellweger made a brief appearance on Monday night’s show–introducing Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Philip Berk–but made at least one headline outside the ceremony. The New York Post reported on Tuesday that Zellweger and “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Luke Perry were spotted dining “at an intimate table” in L.A. Neither star’s rep has commented on the rumors.
Coming clean
So when exactly did Sacha Baron Cohen decide to attend Hollywood functions as himself and not in character as Borat? “I woke up one morning, and I was quite hung over,” Cohen said. “I accidentally shaved my mustache off, and I had no choice.”
Bon appetit
“Heroes” star Masi Oka teleported himself from the red carpet to the ballroom without having to do his famous clench. Oka said he was very nervous, and rushed off to the bathroom. Back from the bathroom, Oka didn’t know the food gets taken away so quickly. Another first-timer goes hungry! “I guess I’ll have to wait for the parties,” he said. But wait–then the entrees arrived. “I guess we just missed the salad and the appetizer. That’s a good sign.”
Smokin’ hot
The nicotine set rushed for the patio during the third commercial break. As Patricia Arquette, Rosanna Arquette and sister-in-law Courteney Cox left the patio, they kept stepping on one another’s gowns. “What is wrong with the Arquette girls?” Cox said.
Ex factor
How to break up in public: Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake were all smiles–and separated by about 20 yards. This being Hollywood, she had the primo seat down center, and he was in the second ring, chatting with his publicist.
Naomi cops to cell toss
Naomi Campbell pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault Tuesday for hitting her maid with a cell phone over a pair of missing jeans last March.
“I threw a cell phone in the apartment. The cell phone hit Ana,” Campbell told Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Robert Mandelbaum. “This was an accident because I did not intend to hit her.”
If convicted at trial, Campbell, who originally had been charged with second-degree felony assault, could have been sentenced to two to seven years in prison.
In exchange for her guilty plea, Campbell must pay Scolavino’s medical expenses of $363, do five days of community service and attend a two-day anger-management program. A statement given to The Associated Press by her publicist read in part: “I accepted responsibility, and I’m prepared to take my punishment. But I’m not going to let this incident define me.”
Urban released
Keith Urban is out of rehab, his rep confirms to People magazine. The country star was spotted out at a Golden Globes party with wife Nicole Kidman on Monday night. Meanwhile, Urban is due at the Chicago Theatre on Feb. 8 for the WUSN (99.5-FM) Country for Kids concert series.
Mixed signals
Paula Abdul defended her loopy Friday TV interview in person Monday as a guest on the “Tonight” show. “I did one of those press junkets where you’re in that one little room and you’re looking at one camera and there are 30 cities talking into your ear,” Abdul said, according to people.com. “I guess Alabama was in my ear and so was Seattle at the same time, so I’m answering questions to the wrong answers of the cities.”
Death, revisited
A formal inquiry into the death of Anna Nicole Smith’s 20-year-old son has been scheduled for March 27 in the Bahamas, the chief magistrate said Tuesday. The reality TV star, who gave birth to a daughter three days before Daniel Smith mysteriously died at her hospital bedside on Sept. 10, will be among the witnesses required to testify before the jury inquest, Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez said.
