Denzel Washington stunned fans and the media at the Cannes Film Festival—not with a movie scene, but with a real-life confrontation on the red carpet. The legendary actor’s tense exchange with a pushy photographer led him to walk away from the press spotlight, raising fresh concerns about celebrity treatment at global events like Cannes.

Red Carpet Drama Clouds Film Premiere

Washington was attending the world premiere of Highest 2 Lowest, a bold reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s classic High and Low, when things went sideways. As he made his way down the red carpet, a photographer reportedly tapped him on the arm—a move Washington clearly didn’t appreciate.

Cameras caught Washington turning around and telling the photographer to “stop it,” signaling a boundary was crossed. While the moment was brief, its aftermath was significant: Denzel skipped the scheduled press conference, creating a noticeable void during the film’s promotional rollout.

Revealed: What Denzel Washington yelled at photographer in tense red carpet showdown at Cannes Film Festival https://t.co/VP36lkwetZ

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This was meant to be a triumphant return for Washington and director Spike Lee, reuniting nearly two decades after Inside Man. Yet the off-camera tension stole headlines from what was supposed to be a celebration of cinema.

Surprise Palme d’Or and a Touch of Redemption

Despite the awkward incident, Washington was honored with a surprise honorary Palme d’Or, presented by his longtime collaborator and friend Spike Lee. The moment caught Denzel off guard—and left him visibly emotional.

Revealed: What Denzel Washington yelled at photographer in tense red carpet showdown at Cannes Film Festivalhttps://t.co/K2035x6rFA via @DailyMailCeleb pic.twitter.com/pufs2440jA

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The tribute underscored Washington’s monumental career and his influence on generations of filmmakers and audiences. “This is my brother, right here,” Lee said during the presentation, reminding the audience of the strong bond between the two artists.

The film itself received a six-minute standing ovation, showing that the audience hadn’t lost any love for Washington’s craft—despite the red carpet hiccup.

Tension Behind the Scenes and Future Uncertainty

Spike Lee led the film’s press conference solo, fielding questions about the Kurosawa-inspired thriller, which also stars A$AP Rocky, Jeffrey Wright, and Ilfenesh Hadera. Distributed by A24 and set to release in theaters on August 22, with a streaming debut on Apple TV+ September 5, the film is already generating buzz.

However, Lee dropped a bombshell during the conference: this might be his final collaboration with Washington. He mentioned that the actor has been discussing retirement, even though Washington recently signed a new contract. The comment left fans wondering—is this the end of an iconic Hollywood partnership?

Washington’s red carpet confrontation isn’t an isolated case. Last fall, he had a heated run-in with autograph seekers in New York, part of what some say is a growing discomfort with invasive fan behavior and media aggression.

Sources:

Denzel Washington Appears To Have Altercation With Photographer On Cannes Red Carpet

Denzel Washington’s heated showdown with photographer: What set him off at Cannes | Mint