Morgan Freeman’s iconic gold earrings are not merely a fashion statement but a practical safeguard. The 87-year-old actor has worn the earrings since his breakthrough role in the 1987 film “Street Smart.”

Freeman stated the earrings are intended to cover the cost of a coffin should he die in a foreign country. He attributes his inspiration for wearing them to the film “The Crimson Pirate,” in which Burt Lancaster played a pirate in the Caribbean. This tradition was also followed by sailors for the same reason.

In a 2016 Fox News interview, Freeman elaborated on the earrings’ purpose. He has also addressed the frequent inquiries about them on Instagram.