Denzel Washington says the “full-on” gay “kiss of death” he filmed for “Gladiator II” didn’t make it to the final stage.
Washington (69 years old) plays the role of Macrinus, a wealthy player with influence in Rome and who owns a troupe of gladiators, in the second part of the sword and sandal epic directed by Ridley Scott in 2000.
The character reportedly indicates that she has had relationships with other men in the past, a plot point that prompted LGBTQ news outlet Gayety to inquire further when interviewing Washington ahead of the film’s premiere on Wednesday.
When asked: “How great was the Roman Empire?” Washington responded by revealing his same-sex kiss.
Denzel Washington in an interview with Gaiety. Gaiety/YouTube
“I kissed a guy in the movie, but they took it out and cut it,” Washington said. “I think they got the chicken.”
He added: “I kissed a chubby guy on the lips and I think he wasn’t ready for that yet.” “I killed him after about five minutes. He’s the Gladiator. It’s the kiss of death.”
A source confirmed to The Washington Post that the kiss was filmed but noted that it was “not a sexy kiss,” echoing Washington’s description of the lip-lock as “the kiss of death.”
Denzel Washington has revealed that a gay kiss he filmed in Gladiator II was cut from the film. Gayety/YouTube Denzel Washington in a scene from the movie “Gladiator II.” AP
Washington’s comments come on the heels of news that the forehead kiss that Paul Mescal, 28, shared with star Pedro Pascal in a scene from “Gladiator II” also did not make the final cut of the film.
“I didn’t tell Ridley I was going to do it,” Mescal recently told Cinema Blend about the kiss. “Then I got nervous after we did it because I thought he was going to hate it. So I was nervously talking on the radio saying, ‘Ridley?’ Did you like the kiss on the forehead? Yes or no?”
Mescal then recalled Scott responding, “I’m afraid I did.”
From left: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington in “Gladiator II.” Paramount/Everett Collection Courtesy
“So I don’t know where that information got lost in the editing, but I trust this guy completely, though. How he cuts his movies,” the actor continued.
For his part, Scott said he wasn’t sure why the moment was cut short.
“I can’t remember… I can’t remember,” he told the outlet. “Director’s Cut,” he added, hinting that the kiss could find its way into a later expanded version of the film.
However, Scott also recently said that there will not be a director’s cut of Gladiator II.
Denzel Washington at the world premiere of Gladiator II. Zach Hussein / SplashNews.com Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Paul Mescal and Fred Hechinger attend the special screening of “Gladiator II” at Paramount Pictures Studios on October 18, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
“No, I’ve earned the right to have my final cut,” he told Collider. “I did the final cut anyway, so my cut that breaks is usually my fault. It’s my cut. I’ll just walk around in circles. I won’t be hurt because I cut during the movie.”
He continued, “I don’t get to the end and then start cutting – God knows that would take a long time. I cut while I was going, and I think it’s right to cut while you’re going because you need to see how you’re doing and how everyone’s doing.”
The Post reached out to representatives for Washington and Scott.
