As a esteemed journalist who has worked on NBC, CBS, and ABC News, Katie Couric has had the opportunity to interview many powerful people, from influential politicians to award-winning actors. Despite Couric’s remarkable achievements, however, his advice for a good interview is quite modest and simple. “The more comfortable you feel someone, the better the interview will be,” explained producer Tony Maciulis in a chat for the YouTube Reporters Center. She also expressed the importance of being “warm and welcoming” when speaking to interviewees.
Unfortunately for the Virginia native, his advice was not helpful during a 2004 interview with actor Denzel Washington. We’ll save the awkwardness for after the jump, but let’s say Washington was not happy with Couric’s question line, which made her feel “shaken” after the interview, as she recalled during an April 2024 appearance on Danny Pellegrino’s podcast. , All iconic .
So why was this interview on the side? This is what Katie Couric said about her awkward interview with Denzel Washington.
Denzel Washington was offended with the label of ‘actor’
Cindy Ord, Jenny Anderson / Getty ImagesFor years, there has been an ongoing debate over whether celebrity figures should share their views on politics. Katie Couric brought up this hot topic in 2004 when she interviewed Denzel Washington for Date about a film she was promoting at the time, The Manchurian Candidate , which is based on a novel of the same name by Richard Condon. Considering the film is a political thriller, arguably why Couric asked Washington if he agrees with the idea that “the people of Hollywood should continue to act.”
“I don’t know what Hollywood people are in the first place,” he answered the reporter’s question, on Page Six . Hollywood is a city that has some stars on the sidewalk. I don’t know anyone from there.
Couric replied, “Okay, okay, let me rephrase the question. Are you one of those people who …? »
“Ah, there you are,” Washington interrupted. Am I one of those people? Hmmm, isn’t that interesting?
“Oh, stop, stop, stop,” Couric replied, to which Washington replied, “No, don’t stop. I heard what you just said. ‘Am I one of those people?’ No i am not »
When the journalist tried to redirect once more, saying to Washington: “No, are you an actor who would rather not …? » Training day Star replied:« No, I am not that either. I’m a human being. My job is to act ».
Is Katie Couric upset with Denzel Washington?
Manny Carabel, Jamie Mccarthy / Getty ImagesKatie Couric admitted during an appearance on comedian and author Danny Pellegrino’s All Iconic Podcast that her interview with Denzel Washington left her “shocked.” He also called Washington’s behavior “completely strange.”
Despite the tense exchange, Couric still has a soft spot for the New York native. “I love him,” she said. “I admire him so much that he’s one of my favorite actors.”
And what is more? Couric revealed that Washington made up for the incident significantly. “I just remember leaving him and thinking, ‘God’ … I don’t think he said anything wrong … I don’t know what happened,” he told Pellegrino. “Anyway, I think he must have had a really bad day because he later wrote a big check to my colon cancer organization, which I thought was super sweet.”
For those who don’t know, Couric’s first husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer in 1998.
Denzel Washington is not about Hollywood life
Evan Agostini / Getty ImagesWe can’t say for sure why Katie Couric’s interview with Denzel Washington derailed, although it might have had something to do with the actor’s long dislike for Hollywood. “Even within the industry, I have no actor friends,” he explained to The Guardian in 2013. “My friends are old friends. One is a former musician, the other is a restaurant owner and the other is a former professional player.
When pressed on the issue of avoiding the entertainment scene, Washington said, “Maybe I’m not a butt kisser, maybe I’m not a schmoozer. I’m not about to go to a party to try to get a job. And then when you have children, the other friends become other parents. We train baseball or basketball. My wife and I were raised correctly. I don’t want friends of movie stars. « Celebrated!
The Flight Star is also suspicious of Los Angeles, saying The Hollywood reporter in 2012, «Los Angeles is a complicated city. The more successful you are, in a way, you don’t have to do anything. Which I don’t think is healthy. ”
So when Katie Couric mentioned “Hollywood friends” in her interview with Washington, she may have been offended because she thought she had grouped him into that category. We can’t say for sure, but this incident seems like a classic case of poor communication.
