Denzel Washington has skipped the Cannes Film Festival press conference for his latest movie Highest 2 Lowest, hours after an altercation on the red carpet.
The Gladiator II star appeared to have a confrontation with paparazzi on the red carpet at the premiere of the flick, a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low.
Director Spike Lee, who helmed the film, appeared to address his lead actor’s no-show at the press conference on Tuesday morning (evening AEST).
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“The last time I was in this room, I had to apologise for a f— up, but I won’t be apologising today for a f— up,” he told reporters at Palais des Festivals.
Lee was referring to 2021, when the legendary filmmaker served as Jury president and prematurely announced the Palme d’Or winner (Titane) during the closing-night ceremony.
Washington is understood to have said “stop it” to the photographer but it’s not exactly known what sparked the incident.
The A-Lister is yet to speak about the altercation but appeared upbeat shortly after when he was awarded a surprise honorary Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) by Lee at the film’s premiere.
“This is a total surprise for me, so I’m emotional,” Washington said.
“It’s a great opportunity to collaborate with my brother once again, brother from another mother, and to be here once again in Cannes.
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“We’re a very privileged group in this room that we get to make movies and wear tuxedos and nice clothes and dress up and get paid for it as well.
“We’re just blessed beyond measure. I’m blessed beyond measure. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.”
The actor and director have collaborated together on five films since Mo’ Better Blues in 1990.
But Lee suggested Highest 2 Lowest would be their last together.
“Denzel and I didn’t know that our previous film, Inside Man, was 18 years ago,” he said.
“We were surprised because it felt like yesterday. But we didn’t miss a step.
“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 [Denzel] been talking about retirement, even though he just did another deal.”
Washington first spoke about retiring from the industry in an interview with Richard Wilkins, telling the Today entertainment editor he’ll step back following the release of Black Panther 3.
He later clarified his comments while promoting Gladiator II in London.
“It’s not over, let them know it’s not over, I’m not retiring tomorrow,” he told Yahoo UK.
“I said I have all these films to do and then I want to get behind the camera, which is going to take a year or two, or three.
“So, do the math, I think I mentioned five or six films [so] even if I did one a year – which it won’t be – but even if I did, that is six years and I’m 70 in a month, that’s 76. If I direct the movie after that, that’s two to three years, that’s 79.
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“You don’t want Equalizer 7 at 79-80 years old, you don’t want that, I don’t want that.”
Highest 2 Lowest, which won’t be released in cinemas until August, was a late inclusion in the Cannes Film Festival schedule with Washington’s presence remaining unconfirmed till late in the piece due to his commitments on Broadway.
It’s not known if Washington skipped the press conference due to the paparazzi incident or if he left the country due to his work commitments.
It’s understood Cannes had flipped around some of its scheduling to accommodate Washington’s speedy France trip, which came on his lone off-day while performing Othello in New York.
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