Denzel Washington has opened up about a 'gay kiss' that was removed from Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott. Washington plays the character Macrinus, a former slave who gains his freedom through combat and evolves into a significant figure within the Roman Empire. The character has been described as having a "twinkle" of bisexuality, portraying a complex evolution from a prisoner of war to an influential arms dealer, as characterised by Scott.
But according to Washington, in a scene that was removed from the final cut of Gladiator II, he had a particularly bold moment on-screen that was deemed too provocative for the release. He disclosed, “I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it. I think they got chicken.” This scene, he described, was not merely a kiss but symbolised the "kiss of death," as his character subsequently killed the man, underscoring the intense drama typical of a gladiatorial setting.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Washington revealed that he seldom revisits his past works, not even the acclaimed Malcolm X. “All you see is what you did wrong. Also, why would you do it anyway?”
Source: Noah Wire Services