Pauletta Washington reacts to Othello, the play her husband Denzel Washington stars in, being snubbed by the Tonys.
Washington revealed that she was surprised that the highest-grossing Broadway play was overlooked. “In my family, we’ve been through this a lot of times. A lot of times. And I think I can speak honestly and truthfully and artistically that it was denied, you know, so you wonder why,” she said. “But we don’t have to wonder why: It’s narrow-minded people that are in charge of making decisions and judgments.”
Denzel Washington has been nominated for a Tony Award two times. In 2010, he won an award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his role as Troy Maxson in Fences. In 2022, Washington received a nomination for Best Actor in a Play for his role in The Piano Lesson.
Once the nominations were announced, Kandi Burruss, Othello’s producer, shared her frustration about the play not being nominated. “Well, y’all… Othello didn’t get the Tony nomination. Of course, I’m disappointed, but I’m still beyond proud to be part of this phenomenal production. Every time I watch our cast, I’m blown away and inspired,” she wrote on Instagram.
She continued, “Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal- you both are delivering a masterclass in acting every single night. Truly unforgettable performances. Congratulations to all the nominees this year!”