“No that’s bullsh*t…”: Ridley Scott’s Confusing Response to Denzel Washington’s Gay Kiss Claims Will Have You Scratching Your Head
- Denzel Washington claimed that his same-s*x kissing scene was cut from 'Gladiator II'.
- Director Ridley Scott has denied Washington's claim, saying it never happened.
- 'Gladiator II' cast and crew members defend the removal as a matter of narrative focus rather than homophobia.
Gladiator II has reprised the great epic of Roman gladiators on the big screen. Much like the original, the sequel also features an impressive main cast starring Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus, Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, and Denzel Washington as Macrinus, who is a former slave turned power broker, dreaming of the Roman throne.
Washington’s portrayal of the character intrigued fans not only because of his heartlessness but also because of a scene where he reportedly kisses another man. This scene has sparked some discussions as both Washington and the director, Ridley Scott, have given different versions of the story of what actually happened.
Ridley Scott’s Response to Denzel Washington’s Claims Creates Confusion
The situation started when Denzel Washington told Gayety that a same-s*x-kissing scene was cut from Gladiator II. He believed that the makers and editors might have gotten anxious to bring that scene on the big screen. In the interview, Washington said,
I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken. I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet. I killed him about five minutes later. It’s ‘Gladiator.’ It’s the kiss of death.
However, Ridley Scott has recently reacted to these comments, and it seems to have increased the confusion even more. During an interview with Variety, when asked about the scene, the director contradicted Washington’s claims, saying,
No, that’s bullsh*t…They never did. They acted the moment. It didn’t happen.
Scott’s statement does not have clear answers. Probably he meant that the scene was not in the script and was improvised on the set by Washington. Or maybe the scene was rehearsed on set but never filmed.
In the script, Washington’s character Macrinus is portrayed as bisexual. In an interview with The New York Times, Scott described the character as a “gangster” with a “twinkle” of bisexuality.
The film depicts Macrinus’ rather twisted path from an arms dealer to a potential emperor. As Washington told Empire that his character would “do anything to get there,” this reportedly deleted kiss scene would have brought another dimension to his heartlessness and sexual fluidity.
Cast and Crew Defend the Scene’s Removal
Connie Nielsen has come out with the defense for the deletion of the scene. The actress reprises her role as Lucilla in the sequel. During an interview with Variety at the Governors Awards 2024, Nielsen offered perspective by comparing it to her own deleted scene.
My grieving scene didn’t make it into the film either. It’s not homophobia. It’s just there was no room for it.
The producer Michael Pruss backed this up by minimizing the rumors and controversy, as he said, “There was so much stuff that was shot that didn’t make it into the film. It was truly a non-event.”
The male lead of the movie Paul Mescal has also emphasized that the movie is for everyone. During his interview with Attitude magazine, he said,
I think this film is for the guys, the gays, the girls, the mums, the dads. The bros will love it as well, don’t get me wrong.
The scenario is quite interesting because of Scott’s previous experience with LGBTQ+ portrayal in his films. Scott’s Alien franchise is one of the most pro-queer sci-fi franchises. His 1991 film Thelma & Louise also featured a same-s*x kissing scene between the lead actresses.
Gladiator II is now running in theaters.
