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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Denzel Washington Says ‘Who Cares' When Asked if He Worries About Being Canceled: ‘You Can't Be Canceled if You Haven't Signed Up'
Denzel Washington has his own take on the cancel culture debate. While discussing his latest film, 'Highest 2 Lowest,' with Complex News, the actor posed the question, 'What does that mean — to be canceled?' when asked if he ever worries about being 'canceled.' More from Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Box Office: 'Nobody 2' Picks Up $1.3 Million in Thursday Previews Denzel Washington Says 'I'm Not Interested in Oscars' and 'Don't Care' About Them: 'They Won't Do Me a Bit of Good' When I Die When told by the interviewer, Jillian Hardeman-Webb, 'it means you lose public support,' Washington replied, 'Who cares?' Sitting with frequent collaborator and 'Highest 2 Lowest' director Spike Lee, Washington continued, 'What made public support so important to begin with?' Hardeman-Webb replied that 'followers now are currency,' to which Washington answered with a emboldened response. 'I don't care who's following who,' he said. 'You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time. I don't follow anybody. I follow the heavenly spirit. I follow God, I don't follow man. I have faith in God. I have hope in man, but look around, it ain't working out so well.' He added, 'You can't be canceled if you haven't signed up. Don't sign up.' While laughing and stretching his arms, he told Lee, 'Don't get me started. You know, chest is getting tight talking about it.' Having a similar attitude, Lee added, 'I could care less.' This isn't the first time Washington has expressed how he's unaffected by public opinion. In a conversation with journalist Jake Hamilton on 'Jake's Takes,' the Oscar winner shared he does not care about winning Academy Awards. 'I don't do it for the Oscars,' he said. 'I really don't care about that kind of stuff.' Washington continued, 'I've been at this a long time, and there's times when I've won, shouldn't have won, didn't win, should have won. Man gives the award. God gives the reward. I'm not that interested in the Oscars. People say, '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 going to do me a bit of good,' he finished. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Denzel Washington Says ‘Who Cares' About Cancel Culture: ‘You Can't Be Canceled If You Haven't Signed Up'
"What made public support so important to begin with?" the legendary actor, 70, said when asked about possibly getting canceled one day NEED TO KNOW Denzel Washington was recently asked whether he considers "being canceled" in an interview with Complex News The legendary actor said, "Who cares?," adding, "What made public support so important to begin with?" Washington was promoting his latest film Highest 2 Lowest with director Spike Lee Denzel Washington isn't afraid of cancel culture. When the legendary actor was asked if he considers being "canceled," in an interview with Complex News, Washington clarified, "What does that mean — to be canceled?" After being told by interviewer Jillian Hardeman- Webb, "it means you lose public support," Washington replied, "Who cares?" "What made public support so important to begin with?," he added, while promoting his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, alongside frequent collaborator and director Spike Lee. In response, Hardeman-Webb replied that "followers now are currency" — however, Washington still wasn't moved. "I don't care who's following who," he said. "You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time. I don't follow anybody. I follow the heavenly spirit. I follow God, I don't follow man. I have faith in God. I have hope in man, but look around, it ain't working out so well." Washington reiterated that he doesn't care about being "followed," adding, "You can't be canceled if you haven't signed up. Don't sign up." The Oscar winner began to laugh and stretch his arms as he told Lee, "Don't get me started. You know, chest is getting tight talking about it." Lee echoed a similar sentiment and added, "I could care less." Taraji P. Henson, who saw a video clip of the interview posted to the Instagram account for Complex, commented, "HE BETTER PREACH!!!! Humans don't have that kind of power over my ordained life 🤷🏾♀️🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾. #GODIS #MANAINTIT Have a blessed day 💋💋💋" Washington has proven in recent days that he's not one to be moved by public opinion. During a recent conversation with journalist Jake Hamilton on Jake's Takes, Washington confessed he's not pressed about receiving Academy Awards. The actor, who has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won two throughout his decades-long career, explained that he doesn't focus on those type of accolades. "I don't do it for Oscars," he said. "I really don't care about that kind of stuff." Washington continued, "I've been at this a long time, and there's times when I've won, shouldn't have won, didn't win, should have won. Man gives the award. God gives the award. I'm not that interested in Oscars. People say, '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 going to me a bit of good," he concluded. Highest 2 Lowest is out now. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword


New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Denzel Washington on cancel culture: 'You can't be cancelled if you haven't signed up…'
Denzel Washington has made it clear he isn't losing sleep over cancel culture. While promoting his upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest alongside director Spike Lee, Washington was asked by Complex News if he ever worries about being 'cancelled.' The two-time Oscar winner paused and asked, 'What does that mean — to be cancelled?' When the interviewer, Jillian Hardeman-Webb, explained that it meant losing public support, Washington quickly shot back, 'Who cares? What made public support so important to begin with?' Hardeman-Webb noted that 'followers now are currency', prompting Washington to deliver a firm response: 'I don't care who's following whom. You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time. I don't follow anybody. I follow the heavenly spirit. I follow God; I don't follow man. I have faith in God. I have hope in man, but look around; it isn't working out so well.' He went on to add, 'You can't be cancelled if you haven't signed up. Don't sign up.' Stretching his arms out and laughing, Washington joked to Lee, 'Don't get me started. You know, my chest is getting tight talking about it.' Washington has long expressed a similar disregard for public validation. In an earlier interview with journalist Jake Hamilton on Jake's Takes, he said he doesn't act for awards. 'I don't do it for the Oscars. I really don't care about that kind of stuff,' he admitted. Reflecting on his decades-long career, he added, 'There are times when I've won, shouldn't have won, didn't win, and should have won. Man gives the award. God gives the reward. I'm not that interested in the Oscars. People say, 'Well, where do you keep it?' I say, 'Next to the other one.'' Washington concluded, 'I'm not bragging. I'm just telling you how I feel about it. On my last day, it isn't going to do me a bit of good.'


Arab Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Denzel Washington shrugs off cancel culture: 'Who cares?'
LOS ANGELES, Aug 17: Denzel Washington shared his candid perspective on cancel culture while discussing his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, with Complex News. When asked if he worries about being 'canceled,' the actor responded with a question of his own: 'What does that mean — to be canceled?' After the interviewer explained that being canceled means losing public support, Washington simply said, 'Who cares?' Sitting alongside frequent collaborator and Highest 2 Lowest director Spike Lee, Washington questioned the importance of public approval. 'What made public support so important to begin with?' he asked. When told that followers are now considered currency, Washington gave a firm reply. 'I don't care who's following who,' he said. 'You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time. I don't follow anybody. I follow the heavenly spirit. I follow God. I have faith in God. I have hope in man, but look around, it ain't working out so well.' He added, 'You can't be canceled if you haven't signed up. Don't sign up.' Laughing, he told Lee, 'Don't get me started. You know, chest is getting tight talking about it.' Lee echoed Washington's sentiment, stating, 'I could care less.' This isn't the first time Washington has expressed indifference toward public opinion. In a conversation with journalist Jake Hamilton on Jake's Takes, the Oscar-winning actor emphasized that he does not focus on awards. 'I don't do it for the Oscars,' he said. 'I really don't care about that kind of stuff. I've been at this a long time, and there are times when I've won, shouldn't have won, didn't win, should have won. Man gives the award. God gives the reward. I'm not that interested in the Oscars.' He added humorously, 'People say, '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 going to do me a bit of good.'


The South African
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Denzel Washington takes a stand against cancel culture
Legendary Hollywood actor Denzel Washington openly dismissed the concept of cancel culture. He spoke candidly in a recent interview while promoting his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest , alongside director Spike Lee. Complex News asked Washington if he worries about being 'cancelled,' and he responded with unshaken confidence, asking, 'What does that mean, to be cancelled?' Upon the interviewer explaining that being cancelled means losing public support, Washington simply replied, 'Who cares?', according to People. He challenged the importance of public approval by questioning, 'What made public support so important to begin with?' His stance underscores a detachment from the social media-driven obsession with followers and popularity. In the interview, Washington further elaborated, 'You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time.' The 70-year-old actor declared he follows 'the heavenly spirit' and God rather than man. He said, 'I have faith in God. I have hope in man, but look around, it ain't working out so well.' He firmly advised, 'You can't be cancelled if you haven't signed up. Don't sign up.' The Oscar winner's scepticism about public opinion was evident as he laughed and confessed to feeling tightness in his chest when the topic arose. Spike Lee agreed, stating that he 'couldn't care less' about cancel culture. Denzel Washington's resolute attitude extends to awards as well. Recently, he stated he is 'not that interested in Oscars.' Having been nominated 10 times and won two Oscars, he remarked, 'Man gives the award. God gives the award. I'm not that interested in Oscars.' Denzel Washington's perspective resonates strongly in an era dominated by social media pressures and public scrutiny. His emphasis on faith and inner conviction rather than external validation offers a powerful message of resilience and self-assurance. As Highest 2 Lowest hits theatres worldwide and fans can witness Washington's enduring talent, free from the constraints of public opinion or cultural trends. Washington boldly reminds us that true leadership comes from within, not from being 'followed,' in a world obsessed with virtual followers and public approval. Denzel Washington's response to cancel culture is a call to focus on what truly matters: faith, integrity, and staying true to oneself. This is more important than chasing the often fleeting approval of the crowd. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.