Denzel Washington lashed out at autograph hunters demanding that they ‘respect him’ in a fiery exchange.
The Equaliser star, 69, was attending a film benefit at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art honouring his good friend Samuel L. Jackson.
As he arrived at the prestigious venue, a video shows him being approached by a crowd of fans seeking autographs from the star.
‘Put this down. I heard you. You talk about showing love… respect me,’ he told the fans in the video obtained by Fox.
In the clip, a fan can be heard saying: ‘We always do’, to which Man On Fire star Washington continued: ‘I said, “I’ll see you when I get out.” Which part of that don’t ya’ll understand?’
His voice got louder and more agitated as he said: ‘Or not, or not! We can do it another way. I can do it both ways, ya’ll.’
Fans have been quick to defend the star online, pointing out no one is entitled to any star’s time.
‘These guys purposely hang out outside of events and then beg for autographs which they intend to sell online,’ mikeymumblez explained on X.
‘Part of the reason celebrities don’t sign s**t anymore is this BS. They would rather give someone a handshake and a selfie.’
Many said ‘good for him’ with others saying the fans ‘do not see him as a human’ with this behaviour.
Sam Dinkler said: ‘Or we can do it another way 😳 lol if yall know like I know you wouldn’t be standing there when he came out.’
User Dusty Bottoms joked: ‘Do these people not know they’re talking to the equalizer?’
Pirinolo14 wrote: ‘Fans feeling entitled to autographs or pictures is f*****g nuts man.’
The actor next appears alongside Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn in Gladiator II, the sequel to the 2000 hit film Gladiator.
Early screenings of the epic, directed by Ridley Scott, have seen fans praising Washington’s performance as Macrinus and tipping him for an Oscar win.
Malcolm X and Fences star Washington has been nominated 10 times for a competitive Oscar: once for best picture as a producer, six times as best actor and twice as best supporting actor.
He won in 1990 for his supporting turn in Glory and again in 2002, this time as lead actor, for Training Day.
He’s already caused ripples among fans with both his looks and accent choice for Gladiator II that have proved divisive – but not divisive enough to stop him from winning over critics.
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