Denzel Washington is setting the record straight after his “gay kiss” revelation sent social media into a frenzy and raised eyebrows for director Ridley Scott.
As previously reported, Washington, who portrays the power-hungry former slave Macrinus in the upcoming film, mentioned in an interview with Gayety that he “full on” kissed a man on the lips, but that moment did not make the final cut of the film. However, Gladiator II director Ridley Scott quickly dismissed Washington’s claims, stating, “that’s b——t.” At the Gladiator II Los Angeles premiere on Monday, November 18, Scott further elaborated to Variety, saying, “It was a senator. They never did. They acted the moment and [it] didn’t happen.”
The publication also caught up with Washington that same night and asked him about the kiss. Washington clarified, “It really is much ado about nothing. They’re making more of it than it was. I kissed him on his hands, I gave him a peck and I killed him.”
RELATED:Denzel Washington Reveals His Gay Kiss Was Cut From Gladiator II: ‘I Think They Got Chicken’
Little Kiss or No “Full-On” Kiss… Why Was That Intimate Scene Cut Out:
In a conversation with Variety, actress Connie Nielsen, who reprises her role as Lucilla in Gladiator, mentioned that some of her scenes were also cut from the sequel. “My grieving scene didn’t make it into the film either. It’s not homophobia. It’s just there was no room for it,” she noted.
Aside from the drama surrounding the cut scenes, Washington shared in another interview just how significant this film and role are to him. “I’ll be seventy in December. I played Othello at twenty-two and Emperor Jones at twenty. So, I’ve been preparing for this role for fifty years.”
Washington also revealed that after a few more films, he plans to retire from acting. “I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. It’s probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done,” he disclosed to Australia’s TODAY. He mentioned that he will appear in Black Panther 3 before he exits the film industry.
Gladiator II is set to hit theaters on Friday, November 22.
