Few Hollywood stars have true staying power in the rapidly changing entertainment landscape, but Denzel Washington is showing why he remains an enduring figure. Washington joined Complex News along with Spike Lee to promote their new film Highest 2 Lowest when he was asked if he ever worries about being “canceled.” He responded by asking what it means to be canceled, which interviewer Jillian Hardemann-Webb described as losing public support.

Many public figures often dance around controversial issues to avoid being canceled. But Washington remained antipathetic to the concept. “Who cares? What made public support so important to begin with? You can’t lead and follow at the same time, and you can’t follow and lead at the same time,” he said. The 70-year-old actor then leaned in on his faith. “I don’t follow anybody. I follow the heavenly spirit. I follow God, I don’t follow man. I have faith in God. I have hope in man, but look around, it ain’t working out so well.”

Washington then offered his prescription for avoiding cancel culture. “You can’t be canceled if you haven’t signed up. Don’t sign up.” He then turned to Lee, saying, “Don’t get me started. You know, chest is getting tight talking about it.” Lee, who has also been known to court controversy at times, agreed saying, “I could care less.” Washington displayed a similar carefree attitude when asked about winning an Oscar on Jake’s Takes. “I don’t do it for Oscars. I really don’t care about that kind of stuff,” he said. “I’ve been at this a long time. There’s times when I won and shouldn’t have won, and shouldn’t have won and won. Man gives the award. God gives the reward.”

Washington has previously lamented the “followers-focused” fame of current celebrities. Speaking to The Associated Press, Washington lamented how talent has been replaced by clicks. “I didn’t grow up like your generation is growing up, with a zillion people are watching you all the time and you’re looking to be followed all the time and, you know, you actually had to be good at what you did when I was young,” he said. “You just have to eccentric, you just have to do something stupid, you just have to get people to follow you. And you know, and the thing about following is you’ve got to have something when they get there. And in my day, you had to have something before they got there. You actually had to be good — not followed.”