Gladiator 2 Director Says Denzel Washington Same-Sex Kiss Wasn't Cut

Gladiator II director Ridley Scott shuts down allegations that same-sex kisses have been cut from the new film.

Denzel Washingtonwho plays the power-hungry ex-slave Macrinus in the film, recently said he kissed a man on the lips, but has yet to make a final decision.

“No, that's b——t. It was a member of parliament. They never did. They made a minute again [it] it didn't happen,” said Scott, 86 Variety on the red carpet e Gladiator II Los Angeles premiere on Monday, November 18.

In an interview with Gayety that was published on October 31, Washington, 69, said, “I hugged a man in the movie but they took it out, they cut it. I think they got chicken.”

The Oscar winner continued, “I kissed a guy with full lips and I think they weren't ready for that. I killed him after about five minutes. That's right The Gladiator. The kiss of death.”

However, speaking with Variety On Monday night, Washington said the kiss was just a “peck” on the lips.

“It's really weird,” said the actor. “They are doing more than what they were. I kissed his hands, gave him a peck and killed him.”

Talking to Variety at the Governors Ball in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 17, producer Michael Pruss he said about this scene: “There were a lot of things that were shot that didn't make it into the film. It wasn't really a party.”

At that time, actress Connie Nielsenrepeated to him The Gladiator the role of Lucilla, she told the media that some of her scenes were also cut from the sequel.

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“My grief scene did not make it into the film. It is not homophobia. There was just no place for it,” he said.

Gladiator II the stars Paul Mescal like Lucius, a former Roman heir who is forced to become a gladiator. Pedro Pascal he plays a general named Marcus Acacius. Although their characters are rivals on screen, the actors joked that they also shared a tender moment in the film that was cut.

“There was a time when we were preparing for my fight with Pedro, I had an idea towards the end of the scene to kiss Pedro on the forehead,” Mescal, 28, told. Entertainment Weekly in October. “I did it in one of the takes, and we sent the radio messages back to Ridley [in video village]and I said, 'Ridley: Kiss on the forehead, did you like it? Yes or no?' There was a moment of silence on the radio. His radio beeps in the background, too [Ridley] you go, 'I'm afraid I did.'”

Gladiator II is in theaters Friday, November 22.