Denzel Washington says makers cut gay kiss from Gladiator 2: I kissed a man

Hollywood star Denzel Washington recently claimed that his gay kiss was cut from Paul Mescal-starrer Gladiator 2. The film releases in cinemas on November 15.

In Short

• Denzel Washington kissed a man in Gladiator II, but said the scene was cut
• He plays Macrinus, a Roman powerbroker, in the film
• Gladiator II releases in theatres on November 15

Hollywood star Denzel Washington recently opened up about a gay kiss that was cut from his upcoming release, Gladiator 2. The actor said that he "kissed a man" but the audiences and the censor board was probably not ready for it.

Speaking with Gayety, Denzel shared, "I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken. I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet. I killed him about five minutes later. It’s ‘Gladiator.’ It’s the kiss of death.”

The star has been generating considerable Oscar buzz for his performance in the movie, where he plays Macrinus, a wealthy powerbroker in Rome.

The narrative of Gladiator 2 delves deep into the power struggles and vengeance set in ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the heroic death of Maximus, Lucius is thrust into the brutal world of the Gladiators and the Colosseum. His home has been conquered by tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome with an iron fist.

Fueled by rage and a sense of duty to restore the Empire's glory, Lucius must draw strength from his past to lead Rome back to its former greatness.

Joining Mescal, Pascal, and Washington in this grand cinematic endeavour are Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington. With such an impressive ensemble, Gladiator 2 promises to deliver an epic continuation of the beloved saga.

The film is set to hit Indian cinemas on November 15, and will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu in 4DX and IMAX formats.