An ABC Studios publicist confirmed that Washington's contract option has not been picked up, TV Guide reported. Washington's publicist, Howard Bragman, told the celebrity Web site TMZ.com that the show's creator, Shonda Rimes, had called Washington and told him he would be invited back to the Golden Globe-winning series next season.

Washington entered a treatment program in January as part of an effort to atone for calling "Grey's Anatomy" costar T.R. Knight a "faggot."

Citing an "insider," TV Guide said the decision to drop Washington from the show may have been based on more than the gay slur.

"There was a pattern of problematic behavior going back before he used the F-word," the source told TV Guide. "I imagine (his dismissal) was the result of all of that."

Washington issued a statement quoting a famous line from the 1976 movie "Network."

"I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore," the statement said.