Ridley Scott has firmly rejected Denzel Washington’s assertion that a same-sex kiss was originally filmed for “Gladiator II” but later removed, dismissing the idea as false during a Monday premiere in Los Angeles.
In an interview, Washington made waves when he claimed to have filmed a scene for Scott’s upcoming historical epic where his character kissed another male character “full on the lips” before that moment was allegedly cut. Responding later that same evening to the attention his comments had gained, Washington softened his previous remarks, clarifying that the kiss had been more of a brief gesture than anything substantial. Washington had earlier stirred the conversation during an interview with LGBTQ+ publication Gayety, where he disclosed a same-sex kiss involving his character Macrinus, who Washington described as being attracted to both men and women.