KATHERINE HEIGL - HEIGL EMBARRASSED BY CONTRACT SPAT

HEIGL EMBARRASSED BY CONTRACT SPAT

LATEST: GREY'S ANATOMY star KATHERINE HEIGL has hit out at her TV bosses for going public with details of her salary dispute. The 28-year-old, who plays DR. ISOBEL 'IZZIE' STEVENS on the hit medical drama, dropped out of contract talks earlier this week (begs26FEB07). Heigl said, "I am embarrassed that this has become a public matter and disappointed that Touchstone felt it necessary to divulge private employment information. "I had hoped I would be able to deal with this issue confidentially with my bosses. I dropped out of the renegotiation simply because I wanted to treat myself with the respect I was not getting from them." A source told US publication People at the time, "Katie is disappointed and hurt that Touchstone doesn't value her as much as her other costars, especially SANDRA OH and ISAIAH WASHINGTON." Producers of the show hit back saying, "We have a long term contract to ensure she'll be with the show for several years to come." Regardless of the controversy, Heigl insists she still loves playing her character adding, "No matter how unhappy I am about their decision to respond to this publicly, I continue to be passionate about and committed to this character."