Pauletta Washington Opens Up About Denzel’s Tony Snub: “We’ve Seen This Before—And We Know Why”

When the 2025 Tony Award nominations were announced, Broadway fans were stunned to see one major name missing: Denzel Washington. His powerful performance in Othello, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, had captivated critics and audiences alike, and the production’s success sent ticket prices soaring.

Still, it was shut out. And for Pauletta Washington, the omission felt all too familiar.

Speaking with reporters on May 7, Pauletta didn’t hold back. She tried to keep things measured at first, but eventually let the frustration rise to the surface—frustration built over years of watching her husband’s work be undervalued, despite his undeniable talent.

“This isn’t something you really want to ask me,” she said honestly. “I can’t say I was surprised they didn’t nominate him.”

The emotion behind her words was clear—not just disappointment, but a kind of exhaustion. This, she said, wasn’t the first time. “In my family, we’ve been through this a lot of times. A lot of times,” she emphasized.

“And I think I can speak honestly and truthfully and artistically—that it was denied. You wonder why. But we don’t have to wonder why: it’s narrow-minded people that are in charge of making decisions and judgments.”

For many who admire Denzel’s decades-long career, her words hit home. Despite bringing to life some of the most iconic characters on both screen and stage—and earning only two Oscars along the way his genius still often goes unrecognized by institutions built to celebrate great art.

And for the people who love him most, like Pauletta, it’s hard to keep watching it happen in silence.

Kandi Burruss, a producer on The Wiz and reality TV star, was among the first to publicly express her disappointment in the Tonys this year. But Pauletta’s words felt deeply personal—rooted not just in artistic pride, but in love, legacy, and the heartbreak of seeing excellence go unnoticed.