He acknowledges having managed to escape most other forms of endorsement for the communist leader's personality cult, but indicates that, without his permission, several of his performances were considered up for competition in communist-run festivals, and that he was sent a number of diplomas for his various roles. He remembers having refused to take part in "Cântarea României" festival, a nationwide quasi-compulsory form of socialist competition in the field of arts: "I couldn't and I said no, sir! said: 'Now, if you don't go we'll fire you.' So fire me! Well, they didn't."