Former TV anchor Katie Couric said that she was left “shaken” during a 2004 interview with actor Denzel Washington.
Couric was asked on a podcast if she was ever suddenly surprised by anyone she interviewed during her news career.
Couric added that “it was so uncomfortable” as Washington’s co-star, Meryl Streep, looked on during the interview. She was referring to an interview on “Dateline” in 2004.
“Denzel, are you—do you feel—you know some people say Hollywood folks should stick to acting,” Couric asked him.
“I don’t know what Hollywood folks are, first of all,” Washington replied. “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, in attempting to rephrase the question, asked, “Are you one of those people that...”
“Ah, there you go. ‘Am I one of those people?’ Hm, isn’t that interesting?” Washington said. He then added, “No, don’t stop. I heard what you just said. ‘Am I one of those people?’ No, I’m not.”
When Couric attempted to elaborate, Washington said, “I’m a human being. My job is acting.”
Couric said that while Washington is one of her favorite actors, she was upset by the interview.
“I remember walking out and feeling really kind of shaken that he had kind of gone after me in a way that was completely, weirdly uncalled for,” she said.