Gladiator II Controversy: Denzel Washington’s Claims of Cut Same-Sex Kiss Denied by Ridley Scott

The director of Gladiator II, Ridley Scott, denied claims made by star Denzel Washington about a same-sex kiss being cut from the film. Washington, who plays a bisexual slave trader, mentioned, “I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out.” He expressed that the decision seemed to come from fear.

At the film’s Hollywood premiere, Scott dismissed Washington’s comments, calling them “bullshit.” He clarified that no such kiss was ever filmed. Later, Washington downplayed his earlier statements, describing the moment as just a “peck” on the lips. He said it was “much ado about nothing,” insisting it did not hold significant importance.

Scott’s original film cut was over an hour longer than the current version, which runs for two hours and 28 minutes. Connie Nielsen, who plays a character in the film, noted that some of her scenes were also cut. She stated that missing content was not due to homophobia, but simply a matter of runtime.

Producer Michael Pruss added that many scenes shot did not make it to the final cut. Paul Mescal, another star of the film, suggested that the movie will appeal to a wide audience, including “the guys, the gays, the girls, the mums, the dads.”