'Grey's Anatomy' star Isaiah Washington, who was fired after reportedly making a homophobic remark about now openly-gay co-star TR Knight claims he should never have been sacked from the hit show. The actor, who played Dr Preston Burke, believes he has been made a scapegoat and it should have been Knight who got the sack. He told the Houston Chronicle newspaper: "They fired the wrong guy. I have to clear my name. I'll start from the beginning. I'm telling everything. So here's the truth. "I feel all this was about him getting a raise and getting his character to stop being perceived as a dopey, kooky kind of character. He perceives himself as a leading man. That's why you could see the change this past season. That was his whole impetus behind it. I was used and I was exploited. I may be wrong but that's how I feel about it." Washington also says his remark wasn't made directly at Knight and denied suggestions he is homophobic. He added: "I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick Dempsey. I apologised for that. We shook hands and went back to work. "I knew TR was gay but I would never attack him because of his sexual orientation. That's stupid. I've been working with lesbian and gays for 21 years in this business. My whole existence has coexisted evenly and beautifully with individuals who happen to be gay, but more importantly are immensely talented. “There's no way in my mind and my heart I could be homophobic." Ref: Bang! Showbiz (m)