Has actor Denzel Washington said that he "won't go woke" for a new role? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that Washington ever publicly said this. This statement appeared on a self-identified satire website.
The claim originated in an article published by The Dunning-Kruger Times on January 3, 2024, titled "Denzel Washington Has One Rule When He Takes On a New Role: 'I Won't Go Woke'" (archived here). It began:
When you're a world-class actor with multiple awards under your belt, you have the luxury of choosing what roles you'll take -- or better yet -- what roles you'll even consider.
For Denzel Washington, the choice is simple, as long as the script follows his one rule: 'I won't go woke.' Casting directors politely tell the actor if a role will likely cross that line so nobody wastes anyone's time with auditions and callbacks.
Users on social media saw this title, description and thumbnail:
Denzel Washington Has One Rule When He Takes On a New Role: "I Won't Go Woke"
Denzel doesn't need to compromise his principles to find work.
Not a rule
Neither a Google search (archived here) nor a Google News search (archived here) for Washington's name and the phrase "I won't go woke" generated any credible results.
In a 2021 article published by Entertainment Tonight (archived here), it was only reported that Washington was seeking new roles that were an "'extreme challenge.'"
The Dunning-Kruger Times
The Dunning-Kruger Times is a satirical website with an about page (archived here) that has following disclaimer:
About Us
Dunning-Kruger-Times.com is a subsidiary of the 'America's Last Line of Defense' network of parody, satire, and tomfoolery, or as Snopes called it before they lost their war on satire: Junk News
About Satire
Before you complain and decide satire is synonymous with 'comedy':
sat·ire ˈsaˌtī(ə)r noun: The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, OR ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Everything on this website is fiction. It is not a lie and it is not fake news because it is not real. If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined. Any similarities between this site's pure fantasy and actual people, places, and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical. See above if you're still having an issue with that satire thing.
The website is named after the Dunning-Kruger effect, a term from a psychology experiment that describes the phenomenon of being ignorant of one's own ignorance. (That experiment has been disputed by a math professor.)
It is run by self-described liberal troll Christopher Blair.
