After Revealing That He Stopped Voting At The Oscars When He Lost To Kevin Spacey In 2000, Denzel Washington Had The Most Iconic Reaction To Not Being Nominated For "Gladiator 2”

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This year’s Oscar nominations have definitely ruffled some feathers – but it looks like Denzel Washington is unbothered.

Denzel Washington smiling in a radio interview, wearing a textured sweater, seated in front of a microphone

After starring in one of the biggest blockbuster hits of 2024, Denzel missed out on an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II.

Denzel Washington in a black suit and tie on a decorative background, attending a celebrity event

And while folks online may have been surprised by Denzel’s absence from the nominees, the two-time winner isn’t fazed.

Denzel Washington in a suit jacket at a public event, seemingly posing for photos

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Denzel was asked about his reaction to the snub.

Denzel Washington on a red carpet in a black suit with a dark shirt

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“Are you kidding me?” he replied lightheartedly, before sarcastically quipping: “Awww. Oh, I’m so upset.”

Denzel Washington in a suit seated, holding a microphone, smiling, engaged in a discussion

Explaining his outlook, he continued, “Listen, I’ve been around too long. I’m getting wiser, working on talking less and learning to understand more — and that’s exciting.”

Denzel Washington wearing a navy blue cap and sweater, attending an event

And Denzel’s upcoming project is definitely one that demands focus. Speaking about his upcoming theater work, he said, “I was sitting there smiling, going: ‘Look at you. On the day you didn’t get a nomination for an Oscar, you’re working on Othello on Broadway.’”

Denzel Washington in a sleek black suit walking at an event, surrounded by other attendees

Denzel revealed last year that his relationship with the Academy has been pretty up and down. In a conversation with Esquire about his experiences with sobriety, he revealed that after he lost to Kevin Spacey in 2000, he likely turned to alcohol to cope with the result.

Denzel Washington seated courtside at a basketball game, wearing a casual black cap and shirt, looking upwards

Denzel was already a three-time nominee and one-time winner in 2000, and went on to win his second Academy Award for Training Day in 2002. However, he revealed that there was a fifteen-year period in his career where he felt as though the Academy “didn’t care” about him.

Denzel Washington in an Adidas tracksuit holds up a peace sign while holding a water bottle

Explaining that his wife, Pauletta Washington, would watch the films nominated and vote on his behalf as a member of the Academy, he said, “I told her, I don’t care about that. They don’t care about me? I don’t care. You vote. You watch them. I ain’t watching that.”

Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta; one wears a leopard-print coat, the other a dark suit. They appear in a public event setting

But it looks like now, Denzel is taking it all in his stride. For what it's worth, if I was a member of the Academy, Denzel would win in categories that don’t even exist. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this year’s snubs in the comments below.

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