Denzel Washington appeared to get into a spat with a photographer while walking the red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, and a video of the exchange has gone viral on social media.
Newsweek reached out to Washington’s representative via email for comment.
The Context
The Cannes Film Festival is an invitation-only event that takes place in Cannes, France, every year. New films from a variety of genres around the world are debuted at the festival.
Washington, 70, is an actor known for movies like The Equalizer, Training Day, The Book of Eli, Fences and Malcolm X. Throughout his career, the New York native has won several Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards, as well as a Tony Award.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
What To Know
On Monday, Washington walked the red carpet for the premiere of his film Highest 2 Lowest. Prior to his exchange with the photographer, he was speaking with his costar, A$AP Rocky, and the film’s director, Spike Lee.
In a video shared by the New York Post, Washington appeared to scold the photographer, telling him to “stop,” as the man seemed to laugh off the incident. When the American Gangster star proceeded to walk away, the photographer touched his arm again.
At the time of publication, the clip racked up more than 3.1 million views and over 730 replies.
What People Are Saying
In the comments underneath the viral clip, many people defended Washington.
X user @stocksandgo wrote in a comment with 21,900 views: “It’s obvious he didn’t want to be touched, yet he was touched again, and then the guy grabbed his arm to hold him in place. What was that?!”
@EvanPrinciple said: “Would appear someone grabbed or swatted at his arm a couple of times, and that’s probably irritating, to everyone not just celebs.”
@DigitalZiggurat shared: “Always and forever on Denzel Washington’s side.”
@scNme43 added: “Love it. Pulled his jacket the first time and got warned. Second time he grabbed his arm and DW let him know there won’t be a third time. Denzel is [the] classiest dude in Hollywood.”
@annamilanollo chimed in: “idk man if someone grabbed me like that not once but a second time after i confront them about it, he would have caught these hands. people really think celebrities are public property.”
@kezzysioux stated: “Dude had the audacity to touch Denzel without consent, laugh in his face as he was being told off for it, then proceeded to GRAB HIM BY THE ARM and try pulling him back? He’s lucky he didn’t get smacked.”
What Happens Next
The Cannes Film Festival concludes on Saturday, May 24.
Highest 2 Lowest hits theaters on August 22 and will be available on Apple TV+ on September 5.
