Denzel Washington skips Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony due to COVID

Guess there’s nonetheless no Freedom from COVID.

On Thursday, Denzel Washington was nowhere to be seen on the Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony on the White Home, regardless of being one of many handful of completed and influential figures invited every year to obtain the award, touted because the nation’s highest civilian honor. ET has confirmed, none apart from a constructive COVID check was in charge for the 67-year-old actor’s absence.

“The person who couldn’t be right here right now, however wished to be: Denzel Washington. One in all our biggest actors in American historical past. Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Tony Awards, vast acclaim and admiration from audiences and friends world wide,” stated President Joseph R. Biden in a nod to the “Pelican Transient” star.

“He couldn’t be right here right now, however I’ll be giving him this award at a later date when he’s in a position to get right here,” the president added.

Among the many different dwelling honorees awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2022 had been four-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles, 25, former congresswoman and gun-safety advocate Gabrielle Giffords, 52, preacher and civil rights lawyer Fred Grey, 91, and constitutional rights advocate and Gold Star father Khizr Khan, 72.

Posthumous awardees included John McCain, Steve Jobs and labor chief Richard Trumpka.

On the prime of his handle to the viewers on the ceremony, Pres. Biden mirrored on the importance of the event: “On Monday, we celebrated the independence of our nation, a nation all the time a piece in progress in creation of potentialities, the success of guarantees. That’s the American story. It’s not a easy one. It’s by no means been a easy one, however the Fourth of July week reminds us what introduced us collectively way back and nonetheless binds us, binds us at our greatest.

“We try for … we, the individuals, doing what we are able to to make sure the concept of America, a reason behind freedom shines just like the solar to mild up the way forward for the world. That’s the soul of our nation,” he continued. 

“That’s who we’re as Individuals. And that’s what we see, a unprecedented, extraordinary group of Individuals … that I’ve the glory to acknowledge right now.”