Denzel Washington on Cancel Culture: “You Can’t Cancel Me, I Follow God, Not Man”

The legendary actor-director dismisses the fear of cancel culture, says awards and public opinion hold little meaning compared to faith and purpose.

Washington, DC [US], August 18: Hollywood icon Denzel Washington has never been one to mince words, and once again, he’s making headlines for his fearless honesty. In a recent video interview with longtime collaborator Spike Lee, Washington was asked if he ever worried about the possibility of being “cancelled.” His response was as sharp as it was spiritual.

“What does that mean—to be cancelled?” he questioned. When the interviewer explained it meant “losing public support,” Washington fired back without hesitation: “Who cares? What made public support so important to begin with?”

The two-time Oscar winner went on to explain that he doesn’t measure his worth by followers, awards, or fleeting public approval. “I don’t care who’s following who. You can’t lead and follow 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 said, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

At one point, Washington grew so passionate about the subject that he laughed it off, saying, “You can’t be cancelled if you haven’t signed up. Don’t sign up. Don’t get me started—my chest started hurting just talking about it!”

Despite being one of the most decorated actors in the world—with nine Academy Award nominations and two Oscar wins for Glory and Training Day—Washington insists accolades don’t define him. In a recent Variety interview, he said plainly: “I don’t do it for Oscars. I don’t care about that kind of stuff. I’ve been at this a long time. There were times I won when I shouldn’t have, and times I should have won but didn’t. Man gives the award. God gives the reward.”

The 69-year-old actor added that trophies have no eternal value: “People ask me, ‘Where do you keep your Oscars?’ Well, next to the other one. I’m not bragging—just telling you how I feel about it. On my last day, those Oscars aren’t going to do me a bit of good.”

Washington’s focus remains firmly on storytelling and meaningful work. His latest project, Highest 2 Lowest, marks his fifth collaboration with Spike Lee and their first in nearly two decades. The A24 and Apple release is a modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s classic High and Low, with Washington playing a powerful music mogul entangled in a ransom plot. Both Lee and Washington hinted that this likely won’t be their last film together.

For Washington, it’s not about fame, awards, or fear of cancel culture—it’s about faith, truth, and legacy. And in true Denzel fashion, he reminds the world that no matter how loud cancel culture gets, some voices cannot be silenced.