Michael B. Jordan reveals Denzel Washington advice that shapes his approach to fame

Michael B. Jordan has revealed the one piece of advice that Denzel Washington gave him to help with his approach to fame.

• READ MORE: Ryan Coogler on ‘Sinners’: “It’s a unique movie experience”

Speaking in a New York Magazine cover story, Jordan said he actively does not post much on social media or talk to the press about his personal life in order to “create a demand” for himself as a movie star.

Other than an Instagram account, where he has 25million followers but rarely posts outside of press tours for his film projects, Jordan is not active on popular social media platforms like X or TikTok.

He puts this all down to Washington, who he said actually gave him career advice encouraging him to stay offline in order to not risk being overexposed.

According to Jordan, Washington said: “Why would they pay to see you on a weekend if they see you all week for free?”

The duo worked together on A Journal For Jordan, which Washington directed in 2021.

Jordan recently starred in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which NME awarded four stars and described it as a “devilishly good period piece”, continuing: “If the Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino mash-up From Dusk Till Dawn had a love child, it might look something like this”.

Set in 1932 Mississippi, the film is the story of twin brothers (both played by Jordan) who open a speakeasy, which is beset by supernatural creatures on its opening night. The film made $48 million (£36million) in the United States and $77million (£58million) worldwide in its opening weekend, the largest debut for an original film since Jordan Peele’s US in 2019.

It also earned praise from Tom Cruise who said it was a “must see” film.

Washington meanwhile, is set to star in the new crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest, directed by Spike Lee. They famously worked together on the 1992 biopic Malcolm X.

NME gave the film three stars and said it was a “surprisingly average Spike Lee thriller.”

It added: “The acclaimed director’s well-worn partnership with Denzel Washington delivers diminished results this time around.”

The film is out in cinemas on August 22 and on Apple TV+ on September 5.

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