Katie Couric Still Can’t Shake Denzel Washington Interview She Calls ‘Uncomfortable’

Denzel Washington - Katie Couric

*Apparently Denzel Washington is one mean mind-messer-upper! 🙂 We say that because Katie Couric is still trippin’ over an “uncomfortable” encounter (interview) she says she had with Denzel back in 2004.

She spoke about what happened while appearing on the “Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino” podcast this week. The story came up because the host asked her the art of celebrity and political interviews.

At that point, Couric brought up her “Dateline” interview — which involved Washington, as well as Meryl Streep, during a promotional run for their film “The Manchurian Candidate.”

RELATED: Denzel Was Feted with AFI Life Achievement Award and EUR Was There! – WATCH

Katie Couric - Denzel Washington1

“I just remember leaving it and thinking, ‘God’ … I don’t think I said anything wrong … I don’t know what happened. Anyway, I think he must have been having a really bad day, because he later wrote a big check to my colon cancer organization, which I thought was super sweet.”

She continued, “I love him. I admire him so much, he’s one of my favorite actors, but I remember walking out feeling kind of shaken that he had gone after me in a way that was completely weirdly uncalled for.”

In that 2004 “Dateline” interview that Couric, 63, labels as “awkward,” she asked Washington if he agrees with the notion that “Hollywood folks should stick to acting.”

“I don’t know what Hollywood folks are, first of all,” Washington, 65, retorted. “Hollywood is a town that has some stars on the sidewalk. I don’t know anybody from there. So, I don’t — that’s like saying — calling you a ‘type’ of folks. I’m not a Hollywood folk. I don’t know who they are.”

“OK, all right, well, let me rephrase the question,” she responded. “Are you one of those people that —”

“Ah, there you go,” Washington interrupted. “Am I one of those people? Hmmm, isn’t that interesting?”

“Oh, stop, stop, stop,” Couric replied, to which Washington answered, “No, don’t stop. I heard what you just said. ‘Am I one of those people?’ No, I’m not.”

Couric countered by telling the star, “No, are you an actor who would rather not —”

“No, I’m not that either,” Washington added in response to being labeled an actor. “I’m a human being. My job is acting.”

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Denzel Washington2 - gettyimages

Couric may have thought Washington was having a bad day, but folks over at LSA say she got a dose of Denzel’s reality that she wasn’t ready for:

Anjee Banjee: “So she tried Denzel and he set her straight”

Takestyle: “Denzel is always real. That’s unsettling for some people.”

Queen Bei: “I agree. Katie told him not to make her question seem loaded .. but it’s her question. She’s the journalist. She should choose her words wisely. Now she’s a victim. Denzel does not want to be referred to as Hollywood folk. And I don’t blame him.”

CleoTheKat: “Yet another reason why Denzel is the King of Hollywood without even having to try.”

me22: “Denzel Washington left her ass stuttering and stumbling. Glad he wasn’t having any of it.”

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