History has always hinted that ancient Roman civilization was kinda gay. With ‘Gladiator II’, the sequel to the 2000 film ‘Gladiator’, hitting theaters this November, shouldn’t all that muscle-packed, violent action have at least a little bit of that historical queerness, even just a sprinkle?
Well, Denzel Washington, who plays Macrinus, a ruthless Roman businessman who amassed wealth and power, said he kissed a man on the lips in the film — but it got cut.
“I kissed the man in the film, but they took it [out],” Washington revealed to Gayety. “I guess they’re not ready for that,” he added.
Funnily, he said he killed the character he kissed “about 5 minutes later,” describing the kiss a “kiss of death.”