After an intense moment at the Cannes Film Festival over the weekend, Denzel Washington has addressed the incident where he shouted at a photographer.
During a public disagreement on May 19, Washington confronted a photographer while attending the premiere of his film Highest 2 Lowest at the festival.
As Washington walked with co-star A$AP Rocky, a photographer tugged on his suit jacket. The actor responded by shouting and pointing at the photographer, indicating that the situation was quite heated.
Following the altercation, Washington’s absence from a press conference was noticeable, leading many to speculate whether it was due to the earlier incident on the red carpet.
However, it appears that Washington had no intention of attending the press conference, as May 19 was the only day off from his Broadway role in Othello.
According to a representative for Washington, who spoke to the Daily Mail, the actor was “always scheduled to be in and out of Cannes on Monday.”
The representative further stated: “The studio and festival were aware weeks ago, ahead of time, that he would not be available for the press conference today due to his work commitment on the play.”
Lip reader Jeremy Freeman, in a conversation with Mail Online, shared his interpretation of what Washington said to the photographer during the confrontation.
Freeman claims that Washington turned to the photographers and said: “Hey, one – one more time, stop.
“Let me tell you – stop, stop – never put your hands on me again.”
With his finger pointed at the photographer, the 70-year-old actor added: “I’m talking to you, stop, all right.”
Freeman noted that the photographer responded with ‘not allowed’ before laughing and saying: “Yes, yes, yes.”
The tensions continued, as Freeman detailed what happened next.
According to Freeman, the photographer attempted to grab Washington and asked ‘can I take a picture?’
Washington tried to maintain his composure, brushing off the grab and firmly stating: “Stop, stop it, stop it. I mean it. Stop, stop it.”
Unsurprisingly, a video of the incident quickly gained traction on social media, sparking widespread commentary.
One user commented: “He clearly said ‘don’t ever put your hands on me again’ and he did it again to provoke him into a moment. YUCK.”
Another remarked: “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.”