Denzel Washington’s Loyalty to Black Audience: Why He Refused to Kiss Julia Roberts On-Screen

Award-winning actor Denzel Washington stayed true to his word by declining to engage in an on-screen kiss with his close friend, Julia Roberts.

Despite their strong bond, Washington chose to forego the kissing scene out of respect for his female African-American fans.

Let's delve into his perspective on this decision.

During the filming of the 1993 thriller “The Pelican Brief,” Denzel and Julia were both at the pinnacle of their careers.

Known for his outstanding performances in films such as “The Equalizer,” “Training Day,” “Fences,” “The Book of Eli,” and “American Gangster,” Denzel revealed his rationale for opting out of the kiss with Roberts.

According to reports from Cheatsheet Showbiz, Denzel Washington articulated his stance on not kissing Julia Roberts in “The Pelican Brief” by stating, “Black women are not often portrayed as objects of desire in cinema.

They have always been my primary audience.” Furthermore, Washington had previously faced backlash from his Black supporters for a kissing scene with Mimi Rogers, Tom Cruise's ex-wife, in a test screening of the 1989 movie “The Mighty Quinn.”

Reflecting on her collaboration with Denzel in “The Pelican Brief,” Julia Roberts mentioned in an interview that she had recommended Washington for the role.

She praised his portrayal of a character that may have seemed unremarkable on paper, stating, “I suggested him from the start, and he brought life to a character that was underestimated.” Roberts continued, saying, “What more could one ask for?”

Addressing the controversy surrounding the lack of a kiss between them in the film, Roberts candidly expressed, “I have faced criticism over the years for not sharing a kiss with Denzel.

Am I devoid of emotions?

Naturally, I desired to kiss Denzel.

However, it was his decision to omit those scenes.”

For those unfamiliar with the movie, “The Pelican Brief,” starring Denzel Washington, grossed nearly $200 million at the box office.

This adaptation was based on John Grisham's novel of the same name, captivating audiences worldwide.

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