Denzel Washington is famous for more than just being a great actor, but as a man of deep faith in God. After fellow actor, Will Smith, smacked comedian Chris Rock across the face after making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith on stage, Washington decided to go to Smith to give him support, but also remind him that while he’s at the top, he’s being gunned for by the Devil.

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After the hit occurred, Washington and actor/director Tyler Perry are seen speaking to Smith though it’s unclear what is being said.

During the commercial break, Will Smith is pulled aside and comforted by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry, who motion for him to brush it off. Will appears to wipe tears from his eyes as he sits back down with Jada, with Denzel comforting Jada and Will’s rep by his side. pic.twitter.com/uDGVnWrSS2

— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 28, 2022

It wasn’t until Smith was accepting his “best actor” award for his role in King Richard that we’re told what Washington said to him:

Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the most strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya [Sidney] and Demi [Singleton], the two actresses who play Venus and Serena. I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people.”

Now I know to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse. You gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you have to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you gotta smile and pretend that’s OK. Denzel said to me a few minutes ago, he said, “At your highest moment, that’s when the devil comes for you.”

It’s like I want to be a vessel for love. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena Williams. I just spit. I hope. they didn’t see that on TV — and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story. That’s what I want to do. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern.

I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people … Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father just like they said … just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things.

Much will be said of Smith’s assault on Rock over a joke, including on this site, but Washington seems to be a man who deserves to be listened to. He’s never been one to shy away from his faith in God and his work shows this. He played Eli in the Book of Eli, the story of a man who crosses the post-apocalyptic United States protecting the last Bible in existence. He’s also made a Christian film of his own called A Journal for Jordan. The movie centered around a military father who died while overseas, but left a journal for his son to read that contained lessons about life, many of which were inspired by the Bible.

Washington openly talks about when he gave his life to Christ, making him one of the few people in Hollywood willing to do so.

“I went to church with (Hollywood director) Robert Townsend, and when it came time to come down to the altar, I said, ‘You know, this time, I’m just going to go down there and give it up and see what happens.’ I went in the prayer room and gave it up and let go and experienced something I’ve never experienced in my life,” recalled Washington.

He’s also a big advocate for men in a day and age where masculinity is frowned upon and thinks that men’s natural aptitudes for strength, leadership, power, authority, guidance, and patience are gifts from God.

It may be that Denzel saw a man in pain and, believing that Smith needed that kind of guidance in his life, offered it to him in a moment of deep turmoil. Smith has been openly emasculated by the very wife he defended with physical aggression on the Oscars stage, and even made excuses for her cuckolding him by saying him allowing it is the “highest definition of love.”

Smith’s personal life is clearly out of control and his wife is likely at the center of it.

(READ: Will Smith’s Violent Outburst at the Oscars Shows a Man Broken and Emasculated)

If anyone is going to have the answer for how to get back to being the strong, confident, and centered Smith, it will likely be Denzel, a man known for bringing class to classless atmospheres.