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Denzel Washington says people need to ‘better realize that you are being manipulated by both political sides’
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Denzel Washington says people need to ‘better realize that you are being manipulated by both political sides’

Denzel Washington shares his thoughts on the current political landscape in the United States.

The two-time Oscar-winning actor, who stars in Ridley Scott’s upcoming film Gladiator IIwas recently asked about the 2024 presidential election, with Donald Trump defeating Kamala Harris earlier this month. During his interview with The Sunday timeseditor Jonathan Dean also noted a specific line Gladiator II that felt at the right time given the elections: “Empires fall, including emperors.”

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“You know, it’s so easy to stand outside America and say this and that,” Washington, 69, said in response. “Turn around, you know? Choose a country. Everyone.”

‘But listen,’ the Training day actor continued. “It’s all political. All promises not kept. And with the information age being what it is – if it is anything – the left, right or whatever had better learn how to use those tools to manipulate the people. There was a great line in the first movie I made (1981) Carbon copy: ‘Power to the people? Yes, they had it once – it was called the Stone Age. ”

‘We are all slaves to information now. We really are. We are all slaves. So whatever you think about the leaders, like this guy is crazy or the other guy is sane, you better realize that you are being manipulated by both sides. Period,” Washington added. “Yes. So go to the movies.”

The equalizer 3 star has previously been open about urging people to “open our eyes” and hold elected officials accountable.

“I think we, as Americans, need to unite and hold all of our elected officials’ feet to the fire when it comes to working together,” he said. The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, in which Trump served his first term as president. “We must demand that they work together through our vote, that they work together to come up with solutions.”

Elsewhere during his interview with The Sunday timesWashington also reflected on his career and admitted that not all of his films were hits.

“After (1992) Malcolm X I’ve made some real clunkers. Look them up – I won’t mention their names,” Washington said. “They’re all in the 1990s. But I deserved. I had responsibilities.”

Although the actor did not specify which of his films he considered “clunkers,” some of the films he starred in during that decade included Crimson flood, Virtuosity, Much ado about nothing, He got game, The Pelican Letter, Devil in a blue dress,The preacher’s wife, Fallen And The bone collectoramong others.

But Washington noted that he was more proud of his projects in the 2000s Think of the Titans And Training day.

‘So 2000…’ he pondered. “Well, in life you learn, you earn and then you come back – like giving back. So if your life lasts 90 years, you learn until you are 30 and from your 30s to your 60s you earn. So at that time I was earning. With a great agent, my career built around making money, and so the making started and then life started too, with bills, four kids and a house.

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