Denzel Washington this week traded Broadway for the French Riviera to attend the 2025 Cannes Movie Competition — the place each a lifetime achievement award and an keen photographer awaited his consideration.
On Monday, the two-time Oscar winner — at the moment starring in “Othello” in New York — returned to the glitzy worldwide movie fest on the Croisette for the premiere of “Highest 2 Lowest,” his newest mission with longtime pal and “Malcolm X” collaborator Spike Lee. Nonetheless, earlier than Lee’s tackle Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller “High and Low” hit the massive display, some pressure spilled over onto the pink carpet.
Washington, 70, confronted and scolded a pink carpet photographer who tried to get the actor’s consideration by repeatedly nudging his forearm. In a number of movies documenting the spat, Washington turns away from his co-star A$AP Rocky and Lee to handle a bespectacled photographer. The “Training Day” star will be seen pointing his finger on the photographer and seems to offer him a stern warning.
Whilst Washington turns away to return to his “Highest 2 Lowest” staff, the photographer grabs the star by his forearm once more, prompting him to swat it away. “Stop it, stop it,” Washington appears to say.
Denzel Washington scolds a photographer on the pink carpet of the 78th Cannes Movie Competition.
(Scott A Garfitt / Invision / Related Press)
Whereas the confrontation went viral, it didn’t appear to boring Washington’s Cannes return.
Moments after the tense trade, Washington joined an unique membership: He grew to become the twenty third recipient of an honorary Palme d’Or. Washington obtained the shock honor, which celebrates his physique of labor, from Lee and pageant chief Thierry Frémaux. Woody Allen, Jane Fonda, Agnès Varda, Forest Whitaker, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford and Meryl Streep are additionally among the many honorary Palme d’Or recipients. Robert De Niro obtained the distinction final week.
“This is my brother, right here,” mentioned Lee as he introduced the prize to his pal. “I love him. I love him.”
Washington, incomes a standing ovation, mentioned the award was a “total surprise for me.” The actor, who was final at Cannes in 1993 for “Much Ado About Nothing,” spoke concerning the privilege of making films, attending high-profile occasions and getting “paid for it, as well,” in response to video shared by the Hollywood Reporter.
“We’re just blessed beyond measure. I’m blessed beyond measure,” he mentioned. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.”
In a press release to The Instances on Tuesday, a consultant for Washington mentioned, “It was a great evening at the Cannes Film Festival even though he was only able to be there for a few hours in between performances of ‘Othello’ on Broadway.”
“Highest 2 Lowest” hits theaters Aug. 22 and options the Tony winner as a profitable music mogul who faces a disaster of morality when he turns into the goal of a life-or-death ransom plot. Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera additionally star.
