Jodie Foster shocks with bizarre dig at Denzel Washington as she addresses backlash over not coming out

by

Jodie Foster sparked some conversation on Wednesday when she appeared to make a veiled comment about Denzel Washington while talking about criticism she’s received in her personal life.

The Academy Award-winning actress recently told Variety about the buzz surrounding her 2013 Golden Globes speech, which many people interpreted as her publicly acknowledging her relationship with former partner Cydney Bernard.

After decades of not speaking publicly, Foster’s recent statement was a major event for both her fans and those who critique her work. However, she has often been criticized by the LGBTQ+ community for not being more vocal, especially during the AIDS crisis.

She reacted defensively when asked about the expectation to be an activist, pointing out that past generations had trailblazers who worked for change. She used the example of Denzel Washington, a successful actor who didn’t focus on activism, asking if he should be criticized for that. Her point was that not everyone is required to be an activist.

Although Foster suggested that not everyone needs to be a pioneer, her words felt like a direct message that stars like Washington shouldn’t be automatically expected to champion social issues.

It’s hard to say whether Foster was just joking around or subtly criticizing her colleagues, as her comments can be understood in multiple ways.

The Daily Mail hasn’t received a reply after reaching out to representatives for both Foster and Washington for comment.

Foster and Washington have worked together and respected each other’s talent for many years, starting with their first film together, Spike Lee’s Inside Man, back in 2006.

Jodie Foster reportedly expressed a long-held desire to collaborate with Denzel Washington, playfully noting that films typically only feature one major star due to budget constraints. According to Hollywood.com, their on-screen pairing was a particularly special occasion for her.

She called him a remarkably talented actor, the best she’d ever collaborated with. She explained that his natural skill frequently led to unscripted, genuine moments on set.

Washington agreed, describing Foster as ‘cool’ and ‘great.’ He said he loved working with her, despite their characters often being on opposite sides in the story.

Foster also discussed key moments in her career with Variety, explaining her decision not to return as Clarice Starling in the 2001 film Hannibal.

Honestly, it just kills me how casually she said it! Years. Years we all waited, obsessing over every little hint Thomas Harris might drop about this new book. And she just says he probably whipped it up in eight weeks? After we’d built it up in our heads for so long? It’s… infuriating, but also, somehow, perfect. He’s a genius, and we just… waited.

Jonathan Demme, the director, wasn’t interested in the book, so he turned down the project. Fortunately, I was already committed to another job, which allowed me to politely decline as well.

Foster described how Clarice’s upbringing influenced her own perspective, saying she always aimed to be a good student and citizen. Growing up in the 1960s taught her to understand societal expectations, but also to work from within the existing system to create positive change, rather than rebelling against it.

To catch a serial killer, Clarice needs to face her own hidden demons. She must embrace the idea that her biggest weakness could actually be the key to her success, much like a character who transforms from innocence to strength through hardship.

‘This is usually a male character. Why should that only be reserved for men?’

Foster remembers Robert De Niro mentoring her and helping her find a more profound approach to acting. She said he ‘took me under his wing’.

The actor started ad-libbing with me, and it suddenly hit me: my frustration with acting wasn’t because of the material itself, but because I wasn’t contributing enough of my own ideas and creativity.

I just hadn’t lived inside a character yet, you know? It’s like… I didn’t understand how much work, how much feeling, how much genuine connection could actually go into bringing someone to life. It was a whole world of depth I hadn’t even imagined, and honestly, it completely blew my mind. I just didn’t know that level of intensity existed!

She thought about how she was raised, explaining that her mother taught her to always value herself. Her mother firmly believed in earning respect, refusing to compromise her values for money or allow herself to be treated as an object.

Regarding her recent film, A Private Life, Foster shared that she believes she’s currently producing her best work. Interestingly, she’s achieving this with less effort than ever before, simply following her instincts and then enjoying a cup of coffee.

Read More

2026-01-07 23:21