Denzel Washington seen helping homeless man in LA, video shows

Denzel Washington played the role of a “very good Samaritan” in a viral video as he helped a homeless black man in Los Angeles during an encounter with police that has drawn sharp contrasts to George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.

The 65-year-old “Equalizer” star “saw a commotion in West Hollywood with cops and an unarmed distressed homeless man,” former NBA player Rex Chapman wrote on Twitter along a video of the encounter, according to USA Today.

“He got out of his car and served as a barrier between the man and the police — helping to diffuse a tense situation. This man was arrested safely,” he added in the post Thursday.

In another video posted by user @MoPhoPix, an LA cop explains how Washington, wearing a mask and clad in a black cap, gray T-shirt and black shorts, helped during the incident.

“Denzel drove by, saw the individual on the road and was worried about his safety,” the police sergeant says in the footage.

“We intervened, spoke with the individual and determined that he did not want to harm himself or others, and he was on his way, and Denzel left,” the officer says.

“Denzel provided him a mask to protect himself from the environment and that was good. So Denzel helped us today,” he says, adding that Washington put extra masks in the man’s pocket.

The actor was a “very good Samaritan,” he adds.

“This is how an encounter with the cops is supposed to end,” @MoPhoPix wrote, an obvious reference to the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody.

An LAPD spokesperson declined to comment to further to USA Today on the incident, which the news outlet said took place May 21.

As of Friday morning, the video had 3.7 million views.

“I saw Denzel Washington trending and got scared, but it was ONLY because he’s out there being a hero, saving a life while WEARING HIS DAMN MASK,” user @mmpadellan wrote on Twitter. “MY man!”

Many social media users contrasted the incident with Floyd’s case, which has sparked violent protests after his death while being detained by police.

“DenzelWashington Did what anybody should do in that kind of situation I would’ve like to know that the people recording #GeorgeFloyd or Those surrounding him could’ve felt safe enough to do the same,” @BryonnaJones said on Twitter.

“Can Denzel Washington go to Minnesota and teach a class?” added @joshuafett75.

“Denzel Washington has been my favorite actor for a while now,” @WesKCrochet said. “What he did for that homeless man just reinforced that.”