Denzel Flamed for Dismissing Notion of Colorism in Hollywood

fences

*Two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington sat down with BET to dish about his highly anticipated film “Fences,” and made a few questionable comments about the issue of colorism in Hollywood. He also flip-flopped on previous comments he made about the struggle dark-skinned actors face in securing noteworthy roles.

When asked if colorism held darker-skinned actors back from achieving show biz success, Washington dismissed the notion and pointed to his “Fences” co-star Viola Davis to support his belief that the choosing of light-skinned actors over dark-skinned actors for movie roles doesn’t exist.

“One of the best roles for a woman of any color in the last, in a good good while or at least any movie that I’ve been in, a dark-skinned woman has in this film,” he said. “So, as long as you’re being led by outside forces or just being reactionary, then you won’t move forward. You have to continue to get better.”

Washington went on to suggest that being denied a role in a film may not have anything to do with skin tone but rather the actor’s skill level.

“You can say, ‘Oh I didn’t get the part because they gave it to the light-skinned girl, or you can work, and one day — it might take 20 years — and you can be Viola,” he continued. “The easiest thing to do is to blame someone else, the system. Yeah, there’s a possibility, maybe, that you’re not good enough, but it’s easy to say it’s someone else’s fault. But there’s a possibility that you’re not ready and you can still blame it on someone else instead of getting ready.”

READ RELATED STORY:  WV Exec Who Called Michelle Obama ‘Ape in Heels’ Fired After Reinstatement Leaked

Denzel Washington in Fences
Denzel Washington in Fences

Washington’s comments are the complete opposite of what he said back in 2012, in which he told his daughter Olivia, who also is an actor, that she would have to work harder because she was dark-skinned.

“I tell my daughter — she’s at NYU — I say: “You’re black, you’re a woman, and you’re dark-skinned at that. So you have to be a triple/quadruple threat.” I said: “You gotta learn how to act. You gotta learn how to dance, sing, move onstage.” That’s the only place, in my humble opinion, you really learn how to act. I said: “Look at Viola Davis. That’s who you want to be. Forget about the little pretty girls; if you’re relying on that, when you hit 40, you’re out the door. You better have some chops.”

Davis addressed the issue of colorism in her acceptance speech at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards, during which she thanked the producers of “How to Get Away With Murder” for envisioning a “sexualized, mysterious woman [to] be a 49-year-old, dark-skinned, African-American woman who looks like me.”

Washington has a 10 picture deal with HBO to produce more of August Wilson’s plays over the next 10 years or so, so his disappointing stance on colorism may simply be his way of protecting his creative future in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, below is the social media reaction to Denzel’s comments:

 

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

End DEI - via Grok AI
Tori Martin - screenshot
Anthony Michael Hobbs
Gugu Mbatha-Raw via Apple TV+
Connie Boss Alexander - screenshot
A$AP Rocky during trial - screenshot
Drake (Getty)
Tamika Mallory - Getty
D'Angelo - Getty
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3
Cherelle Parker - screenshot
Read More
Kanye West and Bianca Censori on Grammy Red Carpet - screenshot
Read More
Beyond the Gates
Read More
Damon Wayans
Read More
Denzel Washington - Gladiator II
Read More
Learjet after crashing - via Grok AI
Read More
Sunny Hostin
Read More
Amtrak
Read More
Will Smith (AI character from 'I Am Legend 2'
Read More
Bevelyn Beatty Williams
Read More

POPULAR

Zero Day/Robert De Niro
Netflix Drops Official ‘Zero Day’ Trailer Starring Robert De Niro and Angela Bassett
Taco Bell customer and security guard who slapped her
Crunch Slap Supreme: Taco Bell Security Guard Caught Brutally Slapping Black Woman in Viral Video | WATCH
Beyond the Gates
CBS to Air Special on New Daytime Soap Opera 'Beyond The Gates'
Kendrick Lamar (Getty Images - CNN Newsource)
Who is Worthy to Follow Up Kendrick Lamar At 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Denzel Washington - via Grok AI
Wait. Whaat?! Denzel Washington Forced to 'Slow Down' After Nearly Biting His Tongue Off
Raising Kanan Fourth Season
New Trailer for 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Hints at Intense Season 4 | Watch
Jalen Hurts - Getty
Jalen Hurts' Mother Confronts Fox Sports Analyst Nick Wright over Criticism
Taco Bell customer and security guard who slapped her
LA African American Leaders Call for Justice Following Slap Attack on Black Woman at Taco Bell Cantina - Presser Called for 5pm Today!
Irv Gotti - Getty
Irv Gotti's Family Expects a Packed Church for His Funeral at Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral