The section starts with a reference to the speaker’s role in a movie in 1986 and a hint at a recent scandal involving Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey.
Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey: Denzel Washington brings attention to claims that Oprah Winfrey is involved in a global crime ring, among other things. Oprah, on the other hand, says these are just rumours and doesn’t happen.
Christopher Walken and Mel Gibson: The text talks about Christopher Walken’s influence in Hollywood and the scary parts he has played. It also talks about a meeting between Walken and Mel Gibson, in which Gibson said some scary things about the movie business.
Hollywood Controversies: Several Hollywood scandals are brought to light, such as claims of sexual misbehaviour, racism, discrimination, and unfair treatment of people at award shows like the Oscars. The text also talks about Kevin Hart’s decision to quit as Oscars host and Hattie McDaniel’s historic win.
Industry Dynamics: This chapter talks about how power and influence work in Hollywood and makes the case that a small group of elites run the business and use artists for their own gain. People talk about contracts that aren’t made public, giving up your integrity for awards, and the problems black actors face in the business.
Dave Chappelle: Racism and discrimination that Dave Chappelle has faced in Hollywood are talked about, along with the media’s unwillingness to deal with systemic problems. The text talks about Fox executives wanting to change a major character from black to white, which shows that casting decisions are sometimes based on race.
Point of View of Denzel Washington: This section focuses on Denzel Washington’s thoughts on racism, education, and cultural problems. He wants kids to learn the right way to talk about sensitive issues like racism so that there aren’t any more problems in the entertainment business.
In the end, the text makes you wonder why Oprah is criticising Denzel Washington and says that time will only show what’s really going on.
Overall, the text talks about a lot of different Hollywood-related topics, such as scandals, personal stories, business practices, and social problems like racism and discrimination.