Denzel Washington reveals why he REALLY skipped Cannes Film Festival event after tense red carpet showdown
Proper news from Britain - News from Britain you won’t find anywhere else. Not the tosh the big media force-feed you every day!
Denzel Washington is now shedding light on why he skipped a press conference for his new film Highest 2 Lowest at the Cannes Film Festival following a dramatic confrontation on the red carpet with a photographer.
The 70-year-old Oscar winner was missing in action when his director, Spike Lee, attended the event with two of the film's stars, Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera.
Shortly beforehand, he had been seen shouting and pointing his finger at a photographer on the premiere's red carpet, which DailyMail.com exclusively decoded via a lip reader.
But a representative for Denzel now tells DailyMail.com in a statement that he was 'always scheduled to be in and out of Cannes on Monday,' May 19, and he wasn't planning to be at the press conference.
That's because Monday was his only day off from the Broadway production of Othello that he is currently starring in opposite Jake Gyllenhaal.
In fact, it was previously reported that the festival had rearranged part of its schedule to accommodate the acting legend's presence in order to award him an honorary Palme d'Or.
'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,' Washington's representative explained.
The press conference, sans Denzel, took place at the Palais des Festivals on Tuesday morning, after Washington was already out of the country.
Seeming to hint at Washington's scandal, Lee, 68, quipped at the press conference: 'The last time I was in this room, I had to apologize for a f*** up, but I won't be apologizing today for a f*** up.'
In 2021, while serving as Cannes jury president, Lee 'messed up' when he accidentally revealed the Palme d’Or winner, Titane, before the official announcement.
The director also claimed that he doesn't see himself working with Washington again. They previously worked together on Inside Man (2006), Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1992) and He Got Game (1998).
Speaking about their body of work, Lee mused: 'Denzel and I didn’t know that our previous film, Inside Man, was 18 years ago.
'We were surprised because it felt like yesterday. But we didn’t miss a step.
'It's been a blessing to have this body of work of us doing films that the people love. It's a blessing, again,' he continued. 'I don't know if we're going to do it again.'
!['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 [his Broadway production of Othello],' his rep said; his outburst at a photographer Monday is pictured](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/05/20/07/98555253-14729831-Denzel_Washington_70_caused_a_commotion_on_Monday_when_he_lashed-a-114_1747721175023.jpg)
Lee added, 'I think this is it. Five [films]. He's [Denzel] been talking about retirement, even though he just did another deal.'
Highest 2 Lowest is a remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller High and Low, and it will be released in theaters by A24 August 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ September 5.
The stars have been on the promotional trail for the new film, but while attending the film's premiere, Washington found himself in a red carpet altercation.
Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman has since told DailyMail.com that the Malcolm X star appeared to have been set off by a photographer tapping him on the arm.
Despite the intensity of his words, many of the photographers surrounding Washington — including the one he was yelling at — were smiling, suggesting that they may not have realized how upset he was.
However, the actor has a long history of tense interactions with photographers over the years.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Washington and Cannes Film Festival for comment.
Before calling out the photographer, Denzel had been standing on the red carpet with his Highest 2 Lowest costar, the rapper-turned-actor A$AP Rocky, 36.
Despite his spat, Washington was in great spirits when he was later surprised with an honorary Palme d'Or award by director Spike Lee.
Handing the award over to Washington, Spike said: 'This is my brother, right here.'
'This is a total surprise for me!' the actor replied.
The actor, who posed for photos with Spike and A$AP Rocky, showed no signs of jet lag and was expected to fly back to New York immediately after the screening.
When the festival first announced its lineup last month, Highest 2 Lowest wasn't included.
But within hours, however, Spike himself announced the film was heading to Cannes and representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Denzel would attend the red carpet.
The tirade comes seven months after Washington was filmed exploding at autograph hunters in New York City in October 2024.
The Oscar-winning actor snapped at fans as he arrived at the Museum of Modern Art for a film benefit honoring Samuel L. Jackson - with the tense exchange captured in a dramatic video.
The Man on Fire star was seen arriving at the museum and posing with a fan - while autograph hunters called his name to the side.
A visibly annoyed Washington went to walk inside but then turned and addressed a fan in the crowd.
While the entire exchange cannot be deciphered, the actor was seen pointing his finger and heard saying: 'I heard you. You talk about showing love...'
'...Respecting me' to which the fan said 'we already do.'
Washington retorted: 'I said I'll see you when I get out, which part of that don't y'all understand?
'It's about showing love' - before raising his voice and declaring 'or not, or not! we can do it another way... or not, we can do it both ways!'
He then walked inside the building after the shock incident.
And in 2021 Washington was pictured having an intense moment with a fan.
The movie star was by his car when the fan walked over to him with a sack of photos for him to sign in New York City.
The pair engaged in an intense conversation with the actor looking like he was given the fan some pearls of wisdom.
He placed his hands on his shoulder and looked deep in his eyes, looking like he was forgetting to keep socially distanced for a second.
While Denzel had his mask on, the fan had his pulled down to his chin for the moment as the Hollywood star placed his hands around his face.
An onlooker claimed he told the fan to 'say a prayer' but it is not known what they were talking about.
