Oscar-winning actor and professing Christian Denzel Washington recently said he kissed another man in a now-deleted scene for the upcoming movie, "Gladiator ll," a claim which has since been denied by the director. In an interview with LGBT news outlet Gayety, Washington addressed his role in the film as Roman emperor Macrinus. When asked about "how gay" the Roman empire was, he referenced one particular scene.
"I actually kissed a man in the film, but they took it out. They cut it," he said. "I think they got chicken."
"I kissed a guy full on the lips. I guess they weren't ready for that yet," the actor added.
Washington went on to joke that the scene turned into a "kiss of death," as the other man was ultimately killed by his character.
A source later told The New York Post that the scene was a "kiss of death" rather than it being "a sexy kiss."
"Gladiator ll" Director Ridley Scott, who also directed the 2000 blockbuster "Gladiator," refuted the claim about the kiss to Variety, which reported that the script notes that Washington's character was involved in past relationships with other men.
"They never did. They acted the moment — it didn't happen," Scott contended.
During the film's premiere, Washington said that the kiss was merely a "peck" on the lips.
"It really is much ado about nothing," Washington was quoted as saying. "They're making more of it than it was. I kissed him on his hands, I gave him a peck, and I killed him."
As reported by The Christian Post, some people on social media were taken by surprise at Washington's comments, given that he has been outspoken about his Christian faith.
"In this day and age, you know, it's tough," the Academy Award winner said in a 2021 interview with CP. "There's so many negative influences out there; social media, obviously, all the obvious ones, but the enemy is the enemy. So we are affected by what's outside of us, but it magnifies or accelerates what's really inside of us."
Washington said he believes God told him to "feed my sheep," adding: "What I found out in the last couple of years is there are all kinds of sheep. So that's why I talk to experienced shepherds to help guide me."
"The world has changed. What is our role as a man? The John Wayne formula is not quite as fit right now. But strength, leadership, power, authority, guidance, patience are God's gift to us as men. We have to cherish that, not abuse it," the actor said during "The Better Man Event" in 2021.
"What I played in the movies is not who I am; it's what I played," he stressed. "I'm not going to sit or stand on any pedestal and tell you about what I had in mind for you or your soul. Because the fact of the matter is, in the whole 40-year process, I was struggling for my own soul."
"[The Bible] says in the last days, we'll become lovers of ourselves. The number one photograph now is a selfie. So, we all want to lead. We're willing to do anything — ladies and young men — to be influential. ...Fame is a monster and we all have these ladders and battles, roads we have to walk in our given lives. Be you famous or whoever's out there listening, we all have our individual challenges. It's cliché [but] money, don't make it better. It doesn't. Fame just magnifies the problems and the opportunities," Washington continued.
The actor urged listeners to "stay on your knees" and "watch me, but listen to God."
"I hope that the words in my mouth and the meditation of my heart are pleasing in God's sight, but I'm human. I'm just like you. What I have will not keep me on this Earth for one more day. Share what you know, inspire who you can, and seek advice. If you want to talk to one someone, talk to the one that can do something about it. Constantly develop those habits."
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Kevin Winter/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.