Denzel Washington with Katie Couric and Meryl Streep-Truth! & Fiction!

Denzel Washington with Katie Couric and Meryl Streep-Truth! & Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor
This eRumor tells of an appearance by Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep on NBC with Katie Couric on August 13, 2004, and talking about their film "Manchurian Candidate."
It describes Denzel Washington as prevailing against anti-Bush and anti-Republican statements.

The Truth
The interview by Katie Couric was with Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, and director Jonathan Demme and took place in July, 2004 not August. (Couric was in Athens covering the Olympics in August.)

It is true that the interview, which was prompted by the actors' new film "Manchurian Candidate", did get into politics, but the eRumor is someone's exaggerated and cynical account of what was said, and is not entirely accurate.

During the discussion about the film, Karie Couric said, "...lately, it seems the world of Hollywood and politics have collided, due in large part to Michael Moore's controversial "Fahrenheit 9/11" and the lengthy list of luminaries who attended that recent fundraiser for Senator John Kerry."
Meryl Streep interjected that she was at that event.
Couric commented on some of Streeps statements at the event regarding Jesus Christ and whether the "president's personal savior" would have dropped bombs on Baghdad or voted for a war president.
Then Couric said that some people think Hollywood folks should stick to acting.
Denzel Washington reacted to that by saying, "I don't know what Hollywood folks are, first of all. 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."
Couric replied, ""Okay, all right, well, let me rephrase the question. Are you one of those people that—"
Denzel Washington interrupted with "Ah, there you go. Am I one of those people? Hmmm, isn't that interesting?"
Couric clarified that she was asking whether he was one of the people who would rather keep his political views private.
She then asked how he felt about the current political situation.
He replied, "You know, I haven't seen ‘Fahrenheit 9/11,’ because I live in America. I grew up here. I'm an ex-slave. I'm a result of what this country can do. So it's nothing new to me. I'm not surprised at all. It's just business as usual. What I want to talk about is, what are we doing right now, today, for these young kids that are coming home? Are we embracing them? I don't hear about them being lifted up. I mean, I'm not just talking about a parade but—"

Washington never said the words "Do you mean "You People" as in me as a Christian, or do you mean "You People" as in me as a REPUBLICAN?" and he did not say that "Fahrenheit 911" was "propaganda and lies distorted to support a cynical democratic film director's views."
Those are the words of whoever originated the eRumor.

Last updated 8/24/04

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Subject: Denzel on NBC

I bet this one will never see the light of day again. Denzel Washington needs to get on FOX News or Meet The Press.... even Tim Russert would at least listen.

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Did you see the Denzel Washington interview with Katie Couric on NBC last Friday morning (13 August 2004)?

Not many people are talking about it. They are wishing it would go away and are trying to sweep it under the rug.

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Meryl Streep and Denzel were on the today show "live" with Katie Couric to talk about the movie "Manchurian Candidate."

At one point Katie asked Denzel, "have you seen Fahrenheit 9/11?" To which Denzel replied, "No, and I have no intentions on seeing it." Katie and Meryl were "so noticeably" taken aback! It was so cool!

Then, a discourse (or more preferably, a fight!) began between all three of them with Denzel being barraged with all kinds of anti-Bush, anti-republican comments, but "the man stood his ground" and soon enraged the women so much that they couldn't get a word in edgewise. Meryl Streep turned blood red and she sat with her legs crossed and her one leg shaking up and down, fuming! Then Katie uttered the words that put the final nail in her coffin, she said to Denzel "you see, that's the problem I have with "you people."

She of course did not get to finish her sentence because Denzel pounced on her verbally by responding "YOU PEOPLE! YOU PEOPLE! Just what do you mean you people! Do you mean "You People" as in me as a Christian, or do you mean "You People" as in me as a REPUBLICAN? She then tap danced her way through the next minute of the show. But Denzel went out fighting and declaring that Fahrenheit 9/11 is nothing but propaganda and lies distorted to support a cynical democratic film director's views.

There's a celebrity that deserves to wear the uniform in movies and I don't mind at all.