"Why pay to see you on a weekend" — Denzel Washington advised Michael B. Jordan to stay off social media to avoid overexposing himself

Actor Michael B. Jordan looked back at Denzel Washington’s advice. In an interview with New York Magazine's Vulture published on June 2, 2025, Jordan reflected that Washington once told him how overexposing oneself on social media can be harmful. Washington's words were:

“Why would they pay to see you on a weekend if they see you all week for free?”

The Sinners actor has been busy promoting the film. When asked about the places he visited, Michael B. Jordan said:

“Going to Mexico City, first, is always a great experience. They love movies. Atlanta is always a lot of fun as well. Brazil is another place.”

However, he shared that keeping affairs private helps create a demand. Reflecting on his career, he said he was confused about what it would look like 12 years ago. He said:

“I was really, really, really unsure of what my career was going to be. Am I a TV actor? Where am I going? And I was like, Man, I just want an independent film. I can show what I can do, and I just need to know if I could carry a film or not, if I could be a lead.”

Michael B. Jordan received the script for Fruitvale Station from his agent, and he read it during a flight. A few days later, he met with Ryan Coogler, who shared that he believed in Jordan’s talent and saw him as a movie star.

Coogler made it clear he wanted to create the film with Jordan in the lead to help show his potential to the world.

Michael B. Jordan’s take on Sinners and why he wanted to capture his life

Michael B. Jordan shared that while working on Sinners, he was able to support Ryan Coogler by offering an extra set of eyes on set. He anticipated certain shots, like close-ups, and prepared ahead of time.

For example, he was attentive that makeup details like blood on his hands were already fixed before the camera moved in. Interestingly, the actor once hired a videographer to document his life, because, according to him:

“The intent was me feeling like I don’t take in the moments. Because I’m always on the go, always working and grinding. One day I wanted to have something to reflect on outside of the memories in my head.”

The filmmaker was tasked with capturing footage to build a personal family archive, something that could one day help Michael B. Jordan’s future relatives, like his nieces, nephews, or even great-grandchildren, understand his constant absence or gain insight into their roots after he was gone. The actor also said:

“I’ve missed out on a lot of life. I’m not complaining — but that balance is something I’ve always struggled with, of the personal and professional stuff.”

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Speaking of his dual role in Sinners, Michael B. Jordan explained that Smoke was the quieter, more grounded character. He was someone weighed down by pain and emotionally worn out, especially when compared to his energetic, talkative younger brother, Stack.

To help distinguish the two, Jordan wore tight shoes while playing Stack, which pushed him to move more and reflect that character’s restless energy and distinct physicality.

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