George Boyle
In the third season of Grey's Anatomy, Preston Burke, portrayed by Isaiah Washington, leaves his fiancée, Cristina Yang, at the altar. Burke realizes that he has been trying to change Cristina into someone she is not, and decides to call off the wedding. Cristina returns to their apartment to find that Burke has taken his belongings and left Seattle. While Burke does not return to Grey's Anatomy after his departure, he does make a special appearance in season 10, leading a cardiothoracic research hospital in Zurich, Switzerland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of character | Preston Xavier Burke, M.D., F.A.C.S. |
| Actor | Isaiah Washington |
| Occupation | Cardiothoracic surgeon |
| Relationship status | Fiancé to Cristina Yang |
| Reason for leaving | Realized he was trying to change Cristina into someone she wasn't; didn't want to force her into a life she didn't want |
| Final appearance | Season 3 |
| Returns? | Yes, in Season 10 |
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What You'll Learn
Burke's departure from Grey's Anatomy
Dr. Preston Xavier Burke, M.D., F.A.C.S., played by Isaiah Washington, was a fictional character on the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy. He was introduced as an attending cardiothoracic surgeon at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, and his romantic relationship with intern Cristina Yang (played by Sandra Oh) was a central storyline during the show's first three seasons.
In the show's third season, Washington became embroiled in a highly publicized backstage controversy. Reports emerged that he had used a homophobic slur during an argument with his co-star, Patrick Dempsey, directed at T. R. Knight, who played Dr. George O'Malley. Following the incident, Knight publicly came out as gay, and Washington initially apologized for his "unfortunate use of words" on set. However, the issue resurfaced at the 2007 Golden Globes when Washington denied using the slur, despite other cast members corroborating the incident.
As a result of this incident, Washington's character, Burke, was written out of the show by the end of season 3. In Burke's final episode, he and Cristina were about to get married when he had a realization that he had been trying to change her into someone she was not. He called off the wedding, leaving Cristina at the altar, and subsequently left Seattle. Cristina returned to their apartment to find that Burke had taken only his personal belongings, leaving her heartbroken.
In the show's narrative, Burke went on to found the Klausman Institute for Medical Research and ran it until he gave it to Cristina so that he and his family could move to Milan. He made a special appearance in season 10 of Grey's Anatomy, where he was leading a cardiothoracic research hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and reconnected with Cristina to discuss her research.
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Burke's relationship with Cristina Yang
The relationship between Preston Burke and Cristina Yang is a significant storyline in the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy. Burke, an attending cardiothoracic surgeon, and Yang, an intern, first meet at a mixer before the interns' first day. Their relationship develops, and they eventually move in together, with Burke's structured and meticulous lifestyle contrasting Yang's more chaotic approach.
The couple's relationship is tested when Burke is shot and suffers tremors in his right hand, a major issue for a surgeon. They keep this a secret, with Cristina taking over during surgeries when Burke's hand becomes unstable. However, under pressure from George O'Malley, Cristina confesses to the Chief, creating a rift in their relationship. They eventually reconcile, and Burke proposes, which Cristina accepts.
In the lead-up to the wedding, the couple experiences stress, including meeting each other's families. On the day of the wedding, Burke realises that he has been trying to change Cristina into someone she is not and decides to call off the wedding, leaving Cristina at the altar. This decision leaves Cristina heartbroken as she returns to their apartment, finding that Burke has taken only his belongings.
The relationship between Burke and Cristina is described as "one of the spiciest relationships on TV" by Ann Oldenburg of USA Today, who highlights their contrasting personalities. However, some viewers perceive the relationship as toxic, with Burke demanding too much from Cristina and withholding affection. Despite this, Burke's character evolution throughout the series, particularly in his relationship with Cristina, showcases his growth and vulnerability.
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The aftermath of the failed wedding
The failed wedding between Preston Burke and Cristina Yang was a significant turning point in the show Grey's Anatomy, and it had a profound impact on both the characters and the narrative trajectory.
On the day of their wedding, Burke had a realisation that he had been trying to change Cristina into someone she was not, and that she was not fully committed to the marriage. This epiphany led him to make the difficult decision to call off the wedding, leaving a devastated Cristina at the altar. The aftermath of this decision was far-reaching, with Burke's abrupt departure from the wedding marking a pivotal moment in the show's narrative.
Following the failed wedding, Burke left Seattle, leaving Cristina heartbroken and confused. When she returned to their shared apartment, she found that Burke had taken only his personal belongings, indicating that he had no intention of coming back. This sudden disappearance left Cristina reeling, and the impact of this abandonment was felt throughout the subsequent seasons of the show.
The failed wedding also had a significant impact on the professional dynamics within the hospital. With Burke's departure, the position of head of cardiothoracic surgery became vacant, leading to the introduction of a new character, Dr Hahn, who took on this role. Dr Hahn's arrival brought new challenges and conflicts, particularly with Cristina, as she struggled to find her footing in the aftermath of her broken relationship with Burke.
While Burke's departure from the show was abrupt and unexpected, he did make a brief reappearance in Season 10. This return provided an opportunity for closure and allowed for a resolution to the lingering tensions between Burke and Cristina. Their reunion also offered a glimpse into how their lives had diverged since the failed wedding, with Burke running a successful research hospital in Zurich and Cristina excelling in her own career.
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Burke's realisation about Cristina on their wedding day
On the day of their wedding, Burke realised that he had been trying to mould Cristina into someone she was not and that the marriage was not what she truly wanted. This realisation led him to call off the wedding, leaving Cristina at the altar, and subsequently departing from Seattle.
In the lead-up to their wedding, Burke and Cristina experienced typical pre-wedding jitters and stresses, such as meeting each other's families and dealing with interfering mothers who imposed their ideas on the wedding planning. Despite these challenges, Cristina and Burke reconciled and moved forward with their wedding plans.
However, on the day of the wedding, as Cristina was preparing to walk down the aisle, she realised that she had accidentally washed off the vows written on her hand, causing her to panic. Her friend, Meredith, stepped in to calm her down and encouraged her to proceed with the ceremony.
But before Cristina could make her entrance, Burke came out and addressed the situation. He apologised for trying to force Cristina to become someone she was not and for his attempts to change her to fit his ideal. With this realisation, Burke called off the wedding, leaving a heartbroken Cristina behind as he departed from Seattle.
Burke's decision to leave Cristina at the altar stemmed from his recognition that their relationship was not based on mutual acceptance and understanding. He acknowledged that he had been trying to transform Cristina into someone who aligned with his expectations rather than embracing her true self. This realisation highlights a critical moment of self-awareness for Burke, as he recognised the importance of allowing Cristina to be authentic and make her own choices.
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Burke's final appearance in Season 3
In Season 3 of Grey's Anatomy, Dr. Preston Burke, portrayed by Isaiah Washington, made his final appearance, leaving Seattle after his failed wedding to Cristina Yang. Burke's departure from the show came as a shock, as he was a lead character, and the show was a huge hit.
In the show, Burke is introduced as an attending cardiothoracic surgeon at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, and his romantic relationship with intern Cristina Yang becomes one of the central storylines of the show during its first three seasons. Burke and Cristina initially broke off their romance due to fears of damaging their professional reputations, but they rekindled their relationship after Cristina suffered a miscarriage. They lived together, and Burke's structured, meticulous lifestyle clashed with Cristina's more chaotic approach.
Towards the end of Season 2, Burke was shot, which impaired the control of his right hand, a major issue for a surgeon. He secretly relied on Cristina during surgeries, but this arrangement eventually unraveled when Cristina confessed to the Chief. After a period of silence, Burke proposed to Cristina, and she accepted. However, on the day of their wedding, Burke realized that he had been trying to change Cristina into someone she was not, and he called off the wedding, leaving Cristina at the altar.
In real life, Washington's departure from Grey's Anatomy was due to a backstage controversy. He allegedly used a homophobic slur against his co-star T. R. Knight during an on-set altercation involving Knight and Patrick Dempsey. Although Washington publicly apologized and underwent therapy, he was fired from the show in June 2007.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Burke leaves Seattle after calling off the wedding.
Burke realises that he has been trying to change Cristina into someone she is not. He also acknowledges that getting married is not what Cristina truly wants.
After leaving Cristina, Burke establishes the Klausman Institute for Medical Research, a leading cardiac research facility in Zurich, Switzerland. He runs the institute until he gives it to Cristina so that he and his family can move to Milan.
Yes, Burke makes a special appearance in season 10 of Grey's Anatomy, where he leads a cardiothoracic research hospital in Zurich.
Washington's departure was due to a backstage controversy involving the use of a homophobic slur against his co-star T.R. Knight.
