A 2004 interview by US TV anchor Katie Couric with actor Denzel Washington illustrates this problem. In the interview, Couric asked Washington about politics and whether “Hollywood folks should stick to acting”. He responds by saying: “I don’t know what Hollywood folks are. Hollywood is a town that has some stars on a sidewalk.” In a recent podcast, Couric said the interview left her “uncomfortable” and “shaken”; she said Washington “kinda jumped all over me”. Social media reaction was swift, with many arguing Couric’s interpretation was unfair and Washington’s response was nothing out of the ordinary. Some inferred that if a white actor had responded the same way, he would not have been perceived as threatening. “We know black men are often stigmatised as dangerous and angry,” comments Ortiz. “[Couric’s] framing of Washington’s response... seems quite severe.”
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