Denzel Washington reveals that he doesn't care about cancel culture
While promoting "Highest 2 Lowest" alongside Spike Lee, the Hollywood icon was asked if he cared about cancel culture in a recent Complex News interview with host Jillian Hardeman-Webb – and he had a surprising answer.
"Do you guys consider being 'canceled'?" the host asked before Washington replied, "What does that mean, being canceled?" She responded, "It means you lose public support."
"Who cares? What made public support so important to begin with?" Washington said. Hardeman-Webb responded that it was "because followers now are currency."
Washington wanted none of that, claiming, "I don't care who's following. You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time."
Cancel culture is defined by Merriam Webster as "the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure." It typically affects celebrities and public figures during widespread backlash over controversies.
A post shared by Complex Pop (@complexpop)
After adding that he only follows his faith, Washington later insisted that "you can't be canceled if you haven't signed up, don't sign up."
Another thing Washington doesn't care about? The Academy Awards. The two-time Oscar winner – who boasts 10 total nominations – admitted to entertainment reporter Jake Hamilton during a recent "Jake's Takes" interview that the sought-after trophies aren't that important to him.
"I don't do it for Oscars," Washington said. "I really don't care about that kind of stuff. I've been at this a long time. There's times when I won and shouldn't have won, and shouldn't have won and won ... Man gives the award. God gives the reward."
"I'm not that interested in Oscars," he continued. "You know, people will ask me, well, where do you keep it? I say, next to the other one. I'm not bragging. I'm just telling you how I feel about it. On my last day, it ain't gon' do me a bit of good."
Washington won his first best supporting actor Oscar in 1990 for his role in "Glory" and the 2002 best actor in a leading role award for his performance in "Training Day." His latest nod came in the best actor category in 2022 for his portrayal of the title character in "The Tragedy of Macbeth."
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Denzel Washington reveals that he doesn't care about cancel culture
Denzel Washington is canceling cancel culture. While promoting "Highest 2 Lowest" alongside Spike Lee, the Hollywood icon was asked if he cared about cancel culture in a recent Complex News interview with host Jillian Hardeman-Webb – and he had a surprising answer. "Do you guys consider being 'canceled'?" the host asked before Washington replied, "What does that mean, being canceled?" She responded, "It means you lose public support." "Who cares? What made public support so important to begin with?" Washington said. Hardeman-Webb responded that it was "because followers now are currency." Washington wanted none of that, claiming, "I don't care who's following. You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time." Cancel culture is defined by Merriam Webster as "the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure." It typically affects celebrities and public figures during widespread backlash over controversies. A post shared by Complex Pop (@complexpop) After adding that he only follows his faith, Washington later insisted that "you can't be canceled if you haven't signed up, don't sign up." Another thing Washington doesn't care about? The Academy Awards. The two-time Oscar winner – who boasts 10 total nominations – admitted to entertainment reporter Jake Hamilton during a recent "Jake's Takes" interview that the sought-after trophies aren't that important to him. "I don't do it for Oscars," Washington said. "I really don't care about that kind of stuff. I've been at this a long time. There's times when I won and shouldn't have won, and shouldn't have won and won ... Man gives the award. God gives the reward." "I'm not that interested in Oscars," he continued. "You know, people will ask me, well, where do you keep it? I say, next to the other one. I'm not bragging. I'm just telling you how I feel about it. On my last day, it ain't gon' do me a bit of good." Washington won his first best supporting actor Oscar in 1990 for his role in "Glory" and the 2002 best actor in a leading role award for his performance in "Training Day." His latest nod came in the best actor category in 2022 for his portrayal of the title character in "The Tragedy of Macbeth."
