Cannes 2025: Denzel Washington confronts photographer on red carpet
Denzel Washington was caught getting into a heated argument with a photographer on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest.
The photographer repeatedly tapped Washington on the arm while he posed for pictures with co-star A$AP Rocky at the premiere on May 19th, which angered the actor. He was captured on video turning around to point his finger in the man’s face and shouting, “Stop it!”
Although Washington was visibly tense off the back of the incident, the photographer was seen to laugh through the heated exchange and shrug it off.
Following the premiere of the movie, the actor then subsequently missed the press conference being held with the entire cast of Highest 2 Lowest, although it is unclear whether the reason for this was linked to the red carpet altercation or not.
The film’s director Spike Lee made a covert joke about the event in his opening remarks of the conference, saying: “The last time I was in this room, I had to apologise for a fuck up, but I won’t be apologising today for a fuck up.”
He was referencing his stint as the Jury President of the festival in 2021, in which he inadvertently revealed the winner of that year’s Palme d’Or, Titane, before the official announcement was made.
Elsewhere in the conference, Lee noted that Highest 2 Lowest, the fifth film he has worked on with Washington, would likely be the pair’s final collaboration, noting: “It’s been a blessing to have this body of work of us doing films that the people love. It’s a blessing, again. I don’t know if we’re going to do it again. I think this is it. Five [films]. He’s [Washington] been talking about retirement, even though he just did another deal.”
Highest 2 Lowest will be released in US cinemas on August 22nd, 2025, before being made available to stream on Apple TV+ from September 5th.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.