Morgan Freeman might’ve played the good guy in movies like Batman Begins and The Shawshank Redemption, but there’s somewhat of a dark story behind one of his style choices.
The 86-year-old actor is frequently seen wearing his trademark gold hooped earrings, with many fans speculating why he’s chosen to wear them throughout his career.
But despite having a net worth of $250 million, the Hollywood A-lister has yet to trade them in for a very significant reason.
As a young man, Morgan Freeman aspired to be like the actors he saw on the silver screen – and that’s when he started wearing jewelry.
Sadly for Freeman, though, he struggled to gain a foothold in the industry until he was 49 years old, when he finally got his big break with the movie, Street Smart.
After landing the role in 1986, he quickly established himself as one of the most talented actors in Hollywood, and even won an Oscar in 2005.
So why does Morgan Freeman – after appearing in blockbuster movies like Bruce Almighty, The Dark Knight Rises, and Deep Impact – still don the same classic gold hoops?
“These earrings. I get asked all the time about them,” the actor said in a lengthy Instagram post.
“The truth is, these are worth just enough for someone to buy me a coffin if I die in a strange place.
“That’s why sailors used to wear them and that’s why I do.”
Back in 2016, Morgan Freeman admitted to Fox News that he thought the look was ‘sexy’, so he adopted the fashion accessory.
“I thought that was sexy. Then I learned that sailors wore gold earrings to pay for funerals if they died in foreign lands. I’m a sailor, so that nailed it,” he said.
There’s another item the actor’s been spotted wearing that’s grabbed fan’s attention, too.
Following a horrific car crash in 2008, which left the actor unable to move his left hand, Freeman has had to wear a compression glove to reduce swelling.
Battling against the painful side effects of his injuries, he wears the glove to most major events – including the Oscars.
