Denzel Washington, who plays Macrinus, recently claimed he kissed a man on the lips in “Gladiator II,” adding that the kiss was cut from the film during editing.
However, the director insisted the moment was just a “staged performance.”
Speaking at the Hollywood premiere of “Gladiator II,” he told Variety: “No, it’s nonsense. It was a senator. They never did it. They played the moment – it didn’t happen.”
Denzel has since clarified his comments and insisted it was “much ado about nothing.”
He added: “They make a big deal about it. I kissed him on the hands.”
Earlier this month, Denzel told Gayety: “I actually kissed a man in the movie, but they took it away, they cut it, I think they chickened out. I kissed a man full on the mouth and I think they weren’t ready for that yet.
I killed him about five minutes later. It’s ‘Gladiator’. It’s the kiss of death.”
