‘Gladiator II’ director Ridley Scott has refuted Denzel Washington’s claim that a “gay kiss” was cut from the gritty, action-packed, and allegedly queer-coded film.
Washington, who portrays Macrinus, one of the film’s most ruthless characters, told Gaytey he “kissed a man in the film,” but said the scene ended up on the cutting room floor. He described the moment as “the kiss of death,” noting his character killed the man shortly after.
However, during the ‘Gladiator II’ premiere in Hollywood on November 18, Scott denied the claim, telling Variety, “No, that’s bullsh*t. They never did. They acted the moment — it didn’t happen.”
Washington stood by his statement, clarifying it was a “peck” on the lips following a kiss on the hands. “I kissed him on his hands, I gave him a peck, and I killed him,” he said.
According to the script, Macrinus is depicted as having had relationships with men in the past.