Confident? Arrogant? Homophobic? Misunderstood? Human? Who is Isaiah Washington?As a casual viewer of Grey’s Anatomy (I wouldn’t call myself a fan per se), I didn’t really know about the “F-word” controversy until (or just before) he was casted for Bionic Woman. As has been proven, the man divides opinion - many love him, some hate him, and others like me, hate what he said but wish to concentrate on the show rather than the politics surrounding the show. But alas, this is what blogging is all about, covering issues..all issues. It’s just that every time Isaiah opens his mouth I hold my breath for fear of him putting his bionic foot in it.

Anyway, Defamer reports that Isaiah is revelling in his ‘popularity’ and the support that people are giving him. As I said last week, the man has plenty of love out there:

 I was just recently at the Congressional Black Caucus, this past weekend. And there was a gentleman there who was a member of those 43 members by the name of Sen. Barack Obama. And there was also two young women there–or, women there–one named Nancy Pelosi, and another named Hillary Rodham Clinton.

And when the lights dimmed, I had a line [outstretches his arms] from left to right of people coming to congratulate me for being on Bionic Woman, and supporting me, and wanting, like, to have an autograph signed for almost the entire–I could not eat my dinner. So if that is any indication–sitting in a room with those three political elites, and people are trying to get to my table more than they are trying to get to their table, then that says a lot about two things: one, where our political system is today, and the confidence people have in our political system, and two, the power of television, and what people feel is genuine and what people feel is right and what people feel about a particular individual. So no, to answer your question, I couldn’t have any time of day to worry about what people are thinking, because I’m too busy trying to learn this dialogue on this show.

So, is Isaiah’s outlook a product or a reflection of America? His large fanbase, whilst they don’t represent an entire country, have no doubt acted as a safety net for him. Whilst Isaiah seems to have moved on from the “F-Word” debacle (at least externally), others haven’t, and with justification too. Perhaps saying “sorry”, even if you have been done over, would be a sign of true redemption?

Ryan has some strong opinions on IW, what are yours?