The Wild Reason Why Columbus Short Says He Named His Son After Denzel Washington

Columbus Short had an interaction with Denzel Washington that eventually led to the name of his son. The Stomp the Yard alum revealed that meeting the legendary actor remained with him for some time.

According to Atlanta Black Star, the pair crossed paths when Short was being considered to join the cast of 2007’s The Great Debaters, which stars Washington. While appearing on an episode of the Moguls in the Making podcast, Short explained that he auditioned for the role of Henry Lowe. During the process, he had to do multiple scenes with Washington in front of studio executives. Short remembered how shocked he was by how the 68-year-old booted out those not worthy of the opportunity.

Though Short was announced as part of the cast, the role ultimately went to Nate Parker.

Short’s interaction with Washington had a great effect on him. It even influenced his son’s name.

“My son’s name is Denzel,” he explained on the podcast. “Denzel, he kept little n***aing me, like, he kept making me feel like a little n***a.”

Short said he was ruminating on their meeting when his son was born.

“He kept doing that to me, so finally I was like, boom, and I’m just truncating the story, but when my son was about to be born, I was like, my wife was like, ‘What are we naming our son?’ I was like Denzel. ‘Cause why? ‘Cause now he’s my little n***a,” he said.

Fans had mixed reactions to Short’s reaction to meeting Washington.

“Lmao not Columbus Short saying Denzel Washington kept little n***aing him so he named his son Denzel so he will always be his little n***a

,” someone wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Short also talked about the inspiration behind his son’s name in the actor’s 2020 autobiography, Short Stories.

“The truth is, he remains to be my favorite actor, period,” he wrote. “He is brilliant in all his choices on screen, and after years of seeking his validation of my existence in the business, I am finally at peace with it all and still would jump at the chance to share the screen with him. My son carries my hero’s name; he’s destined for greatness.”

He also revealed in the book that Washington wasn’t interested in his audition for Fences, but years later, when the 40-year-old was starring on Scandal, Washington finally appreciated Short’s talent.