Denzel Washington reveals he once encouraged a young Toronto kid, years later he learned it was Drake
Denzel Washington can’t always remember meeting other celebrities before they got famous. But he has a unique history with rappers drake this has fans raising questions.
In a recent interview with Good Morning America, the “Equalizer” star opened up about their encounter to mark the opening of the 5,000th location of The Boys and Girls Club in Elgin, Illinois.
Washington became spokesman for the Boys and Girls Club of America more than 30 years ago and credits the organization with helping shape it. Each facility offers safe and fun common areas and opportunities for young children to thrive, like Drake, who he met at a Toronto boys and girls club.
A short clip from the interview was shared on Twitter and Instagram, with the 68-year-old explaining how he met the Canadian native as a child.
“I met a guy in Toronto who came and was intrigued because I was like this star and he wanted to talk to me and couldn’t believe he was meeting me,” Washington said. “Well, 10 or 15 years later he came and said, ‘You don’t remember when you met me,'” and I said, ‘No.’ His name is Drake and he said what I told him; he never forgot it.”
The clip was shared by 2Cool2Blog on Instagram and Twitter, where fans recalled Washington forgetting the time he met another celebrity. Damson Idris.
He met the “Snowfall” actor at Idris auditioned playing his son in the 2016 film Fences. But Washington didn’t recall the meeting when asked about Idris at a premiere event in 2022. The British entertainer had often been compared to the ‘Glory’ star, which was news to Washington. Idris shared that Washington remembered him the next time they met at a Lakers game.
“He walks my way, he goes to shake hands with all the news people, he walks right past me and I’m like, ‘I have to say something. Denzel, Denzel, hello. Thank you for everything.’ He says, “Thanks, son.” I say, “It’s Damson Idris,” and then he turns around, remembers last year when I was cooked, and he said, “Aye, my man! Yes my boy! Hey you owe me money!’… It was cool man, it was fun. full circle moment.”
Social media users had a lot to say about Washington and his forgetful memory online. A fan joked“Denzel doesn’t remember anyone.”
Another, referring to his age, jokingly said: “Damn… Denzel really getting up there.” A third fan asked: “Damn what he says Drake doesn’t forget?”
Washington didn’t share what he said to the “Her Loss” rapper. In response to the criticism, some fans noted that Drake had previously paid homage to one of his favorite actors. One said: “I remember niggas gave drake hell for that denzel Tattoo, sometimes it’s good to shut up y’all.”
Drake has always been fond of Washington and even has a tattoo of the beloved actor on his body. Back in 2017, Drizzy got a tattoo of the role of the two-time Academy Award winner in Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues. In the 1990 film, Washington played fictional jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam.
“I heard about it,” Washington said at the time asked about the tattoo on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
After Fallon joked about where the tattoo was, Washington added, “Now I’m wondering: where is that? That’s crazy.”
The Boys & Girls Club has 5,000 locations supporting more than 40 million children across the country.
