Hollywood actor Denzel Washington has made it clear he has no interest in cancel culture, insisting his focus is on following God rather than chasing public approval.
In a conversation with Complex, Washington questioned the very idea of being “canceled.” When told the term means losing public support, he responded boldly: “Who cares? What made public support so important to begin with? Followers now are currency? I don’t care who’s following who.”
Washington explained that his confidence rests not in fans or followers, but in his Christian faith. “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.”
Sitting alongside director Spike Lee, who also dismissed cancel culture by saying, “I could care less,” Washington laughed off the debate, adding: “You can’t be canceled if you haven’t signed up. Don’t sign up.”
Washington, one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, recently made history with his 11th Golden Globe nomination for Gladiator II—the most nominations ever received by a Black actor.
Despite his enduring career success, he says he is now more focused on legacy than accolades: “Life is in three sections: you learn, you earn, you return. I’m in the return part of life.”
