The two-time Oscar-winning Hollywood star Denzel Washington has been left humiliated this week. Indeed, he’s likely shocked that he’s being ruthlessly roasted online for his “hilariously bad” British accent in the 1988 film For Queen and Country.
Washington’s British Accent Fail
In this movie, Washington, now 70, played a decorated paratrooper who was discharged from the British military. He then returns to his old neighborhood in inner-city London.
In a clip that is going viral online for all the wrong reasons, Washington’s character is told that he “no longer has citizenship to UK colonies.” This results in him having an extremely dramatic response. Unfortunately for Washington, however, it also prompts him to attempt a British accent that has been widely ridiculed as being painfully bad.
“But I can die for the United Kingson and colonies, can’t I? You can put me out there as a front gunner to have my bleeding head blown out,” Washington said in the clip.
This clip was posted to social media along with the caption, “Denzel Washington attempting an English accent is one of the best things I’ve seen in quite some time.”
Check it out for yourself below.
Social Media Responds
Indeed, it doesn’t get much worse than that, folks!
It didn’t take long for the clip to go viral, with social media users having a field day with it.
“That is hilariously bad,” one user bluntly commented. Another added, “I love Denzel, but we should probably revoke one of his Oscars for this.”
Other users went so far as to compare this to Dick Van Dyke’s infamously butchered Cockney accent in the 1964 classic Disney movie Mary Poppins.
“Think he’s studied Dick Van Dyke’s performance in Mary Poppins a bit too much,” one social media user commented. Another wrote, “A lot of people making jokes here, but you try doing a Cockney accent when your voice coach was Dick Van Dyke!”
Yet another user summed up this entire situation by writing, “I think we can conclude Brits do better American accents than Americans do Brits.”
After watching Washington’s attempt at a British accent, we can’t argue with that!
Washington Addresses British Accent Fail
Even Washington himself has admitted that he failed at nailing this British accent. Last year, Washington was on a press tour promoting Gladiator II. In that movie, Washington used an American accent, even though he was playing a Roman emperor.
During one interview on that media blitz, a British journalist reminded Washington of For Queen and Country. Washington immediately reacted by putting his head in his hands in embarrassment.
“That’s the reason I didn’t use an accent in this film,” Washington confessed. “I was terrible in that. That accent was awful.”
Washington’s Surprising ‘Hollywood’ Comments
This comes two months after Washington shocked everyone by saying that he doesn’t see himself as a “Hollywood” star. This came as a surprise, given his two Oscars and decades of success in film.
“What’s the definition of a Hollywood actor? Myself, I’m from Mt. Vernon, so I’m a ‘Mt. Vernon actor,'” Washington quipped in a March interview, referring to his hometown in New York.
“I don’t know what ‘Hollywood’ means,” he continued. “I’m a stage actor who does film; it’s not the other way around.”
Full Story: Two-Time Oscar Winner Denzel Washington Reveals Why He Doesn’t See Himself As A ‘Hollywood Actor’
Clearly, unlike many actors, Washington is a down-to-earth person who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Washington may not be able to pull off a British accent, but he’s still one of the most talented actors alive today. In the end, nobody can take that away from Denzel Washington!
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