HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — T.R. Knight is opening up about his decision to leave "Grey's Anatomy," admitting that he is at peace with walking away from the top 10 show.
"There just comes a time when it's so clear that moving on is the best decision," the 34-year-old actor tells Entertainment Weekly of his departure, which was announced last month.
Knight says he grew so frustrated after watching his character, Dr. George O'Malley, get "expired" from the ABC show in season 5, that he didn't even bother asking executive producer Shonda Rhimes why his screen time had been cut.
"My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George]," he tells the mag of his decision to walk without asking questions.
"Grey's" co-star Katherine Heigl initially disagreed with Knight's plan to exit.
"I didn't think it was the right decision," she says. "I felt like some of the problems could be worked through. But by the time it came to fruition, I was [glad] for him because he was ready to go."
Knight also discusses the infamous on-set incident in 2006 between Isaiah Washington and Patrick Dempsey. Washington used a gay slur in referring to Knight during the exchange and was later fired from the show. The incident also led to Knight coming out, which he claims Rhimes was opposed to.
"I think she was concerned about having my statement come out so close to the [initial] event," he says of Rhimes, who denies that being the case.
With the future unknown, Knight says he fully understands why the public may question his decision to walk away from a $14 million contract and a hit series.
"From an outsider’s perspective, I get the 'He's just a spoiled actor ... he doesn't know how good he has it,' " he explains. "There are a lot of people who would like to be in my position. But in the end, I need to be fulfilled in my work."
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