Denzel Washington has addressed the tense moment he had with a photographer during the Cannes Film Festival, following widespread speculation about the incident and his subsequent absence from a press event.
The confrontation occurred on May 19 during the premiere of Highest 2 Lowest, where Washington was seen walking the red carpet alongside co-star A$AP Rocky. The situation escalated when a photographer reportedly tugged on Washington’s suit jacket, prompting a visibly upset response from the veteran actor.
Eyewitness footage showed Washington raising his voice and pointing at the photographer in a visibly heated exchange. Shortly after the incident, the actor skipped a scheduled press conference, sparking rumors that the altercation might have been the reason.
However, a representative for Washington clarified that his absence was unrelated. “Denzel was always scheduled to be in and out of Cannes on Monday,” the spokesperson told the Daily Mail. “The studio and festival were informed weeks in advance that he would not be available for the press conference due to his ongoing Broadway commitment in Othello.”
To further shed light on the confrontation, lip reader Jeremy Freeman analyzed the footage and shared his interpretation with Mail Online. According to Freeman, Washington told the photographer:
“Hey, one—one more time, stop. Let me tell you—stop, stop—never put your hands on me again.”
Washington then pointed at the photographer and added: “I’m talking to you. Stop, all right?”
Freeman claimed the photographer responded with, “Not allowed,” followed by laughter and the repeated phrase, “Yes, yes, yes.” He also noted that the tension did not end there, indicating the confrontation may have continued off-camera.
While the moment sparked significant buzz, Washington’s team remains firm that the incident had no bearing on his press obligations, citing his tight schedule and prior commitments.
Denzel Washington has since spoken out (Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
The photographer appeared to grab Washington and ask ‘can I take a picture?’, according to Freeman.
Washington seemingly tried to keep his temper in check, brushing off the grab and shouting back: “Stop, stop it, stop it. I mean it. Stop, stop it.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a clip of the interaction quickly went viral on social media, with seemingly everyone having their say.
One person said: “He clearly said ‘don’t ever put your hands on me again’ and he did it again to provoke him into a moment. YUCK.”
With another said: “I don’t get that stuff. These folks are around people all day, every day grabbing at them and asking them for stuff. Not a life I’d ever want, I see stuff like how Denzel reacted and I give him the total pass.”
