Denzel Washington has revealed that we’ve all been saying his name wrong for decades.
The Hollywood legend has lit up the screen for years, having stepped into the spotlight in the 70s, and appeared in Malcolm X, Unstoppable, American Gangster, Man on Fire, Fences and the Equalizer films to name a few.
He has also taken home two Oscars in that time, for his efforts in Glory and Training Day, and most recently popped up in Spike Lee’s new film, Highest 2 Lowest.
However, after spending much of his life in the public eye, the 70-year-old dropped a bombshell during his latest TV interview, when he corrected the world on how to pronounce his name.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host dropped in the fact that there are ‘currently four players named Denzel in the NFL’.
‘I know. There’s a lot of Denzels now,’ the star interjected, before Jimmy continued: ‘There weren’t that many before your first Oscar.
‘There was zero in 1987.’
‘And this is how you know they named themselves after me,’ Denzel proudly replied. ‘Because my name is not pronounced Denzel. My name is pronounced Denzel [said Den-zil].
‘I’m Denzel Jr, my father is Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. I’m Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. My mother would say Denzel and we’d both show up.
‘So she said, “From now on, you’re Denzel [said Den-zel]”. That’s how it got pronounced Denzel.’
Discussing his many namesakes that popped up in the NFL after he shot to fame, he quipped: ‘There ought to be some kind of compensation for this, shouldn’t I?’
Denzel – pronounced the right way, of course – recently sent fans into a spin when he opened up about his very interesting film-watching habits.
In fact, despite being in countless films and TV shows since he began his career, he confessed that he doesn’t watch films at all.
Unpacking the reason behind this, he suggested that he has shied away from watching films because he’s starred in so many.
Speaking to A$AP Rocky and Spike Lee to promote Highest 2 Lowest, he admitted: ‘I don’t watch movies, man. I really don’t.
‘I’m just being honest with you! I don’t watch movies! I don’t go to the movies. I don’t watch movies. … I’m tired of movies.’
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