Ridley Scott Refutes ‘Gladiator 2’s Deleted Gay Kiss Scene

by

As a seasoned film enthusiast with a penchant for unraveling cinematic mysteries and a soft spot for Denzel Washington’s riveting performances, I must say the recent saga surrounding his alleged gay kiss in Gladiator II has left me both amused and bewildered.

It appears that Denzel Washington’s assertion about his gay kiss being omitted from the final cut of the movie “Gladiator II,” where he plays Macrinus, is apparently false, according to director Ridley Scott. When asked about it by a Variety reporter during the L.A. premiere, Scott seemed puzzled and unaware of the situation. The story also features Paul Mescal’s character, Lucius “Hanno” Verus.

Last week, Washington admitted to Variety that he shared a passionate kiss with another actor in ‘Gladiator II’ for about five minutes, and then killed him in the movie. He mentioned this particular scene was removed because it was deemed too bold. When asked about this during a recent interview on the red carpet in Los Angeles, director Ridley Scott seemed puzzled by the question. Upon clarification, he acknowledged that Washington played a character who kills another character, but did not comment further on the kissing scene.

No, that’s bullsh*t. It was a Senator. They never did [kiss]. They acted the moment. It never happened.

To clarify, the individual out of frame confirmed Scott’s statement, stating “We double-checked the footage. There was no kiss at all.” Essentially, they are saying that there was no romantic kiss between Washington and another man in Gladiator II. This clears up any confusion about the actor’s statements from last week. However, it still leaves one wondering what exactly he might have been referring to.

Denzel Washington Walks Back His Gay Kiss Comments

The events at the red carpet unfolded further into the evening as the Variety reporter encountered Washington again. Scott had stated he didn’t witness a kiss, to which Washington appeared somewhat irked (perhaps because of his own actions), and responded, “‘Too much fuss over nothing.’ They’re exaggerating it more than it actually was.” Later, Washington conceded that a kiss did indeed occur, but it wasn’t on the lips.

I kissed him on his hands, I gave him a peck, and then I killed him [laughs].

It’s puzzling why Washington might claim he kissed a man passionately on the lips when it didn’t happen, but one speculation could be that he aimed to gain favor within the LGBTQ+ community, assuming the truth would never surface. However, considering the character of Macrinus in ancient Rome, such behavior wouldn’t be entirely unexpected given the openness and fluidity of sexuality during that time. Unfortunately for those anticipating his first on-screen kiss with another man, you won’t find it depicted here.

In “Gladiator II”, you’ll encounter grandiose setups, thrilling battle scenes, and a generous dose of intense drama. The film is expected to have a blockbuster debut, potentially earning around $80 million during its opening weekend. Catch all the excitement when this much-anticipated sequel hits cinemas nationwide on November 22nd.

Read More

2024-11-19 20:32