Fans React as 'Gladiator 2' director Ridley Scott Denies Denzel Washington’s "chicken" Claims Over Man to Man Kiss

Published 11/18/2024, 11:53 PM EST

As Hollywood assembles its finest, from Paul Mescal to Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn, for the epic spectacle of Gladiator II, the buzz began well before the script dried. But now, with every eye fixed on this star-studded Roman revival, it is not the casting drawing whispers. Instead, it is a decades-old tidbit about Denzel Washington’s kiss with another actor, promptly dismissed by Ridley Scott. 

While promoting Gladiator II, Washington took quite a big jab disguised as a joke as he called the studio "chicken" for cutting his gay kiss in an interview with Gayety. However, before audiences could bring the fire to town, Ridley Scott has called the ordeal "bulls--t", adding ten years worth of life to the drama loving spectators.

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According to Ridley Scott, there were several scenes that were improvised by the actors in the original, and the kiss happened to be one of them. At the end of the day, the studio may have not found it of much value to the story, as Washington himself said that the man who he kissed dies five minutes later into the scene.

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The risky claim and the quick denouncement of it by Denzel Washington and Ridely Scott has fans more invested in Gladiator if that was even possible after the stunning showup at the Gladiator II' London Red Carpet Premiere.

Denzel Washington and Ridley Scott add drama to Gladiator II promotions

With the 90s coming back not just in terms of fashion but how much juicier movie promotions have gotten, fans are always on the lookout for drama. And despite It Ends With Us having provided enough, owing to Denzel Washington's statement, audiences have made room for dessert. As Ridley Scott denied the accusation, it left fans wondering as to why would he even make the statement.

Denzel Washington's statement about the studio not being ready for a gay kiss had every chance of being true owing to the time the Gladiator movie was released. With even Will Smith having confessed to not being ready for such a move back then, it could have cost Gladiator II big time in the current scenario, had it not been for Scott's refute.

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The entire exchange had fans running to make a range of claims and jokes. Fortunately, that is all the Gladiator II drama is for now, and not a cast member dressed in a black revenge dress showing up at the last moment to premiere after skipping a very entertaining press tour.

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What do you think about Denzel Washington's statement? Let us know in the comments below.

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Aliza Siddiqui

1847 articles

Aliza Siddiqui, a seasoned entertainment journalist and primary editor at Netflix Junkie, discovered her passion for storytelling through Anne Hathaway's iconic performance in Princess Diaries. Her love for film was further solidified by the thought-provoking climax of Don't Look Up, which left her in awe of its ability to balance humor and commentary, much like The Dictator and Cunk on Earth, which impressed her with their loud yet subtle haywire references. With a background in writing over a thousand articles at Otakukart, Aliza brings her unique voice and style to her editorial role, where she incorporates her idiosyncratic wit with engaging content.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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