Veteran actor Denzel Washington has reportedly pulled out of the press conference for his new movie after an ugly altercation on Monday with a photographer at the Cannes Film Festival.
Washington was seen jabbing his finger in the face of a photographer who seemingly grabbed his shirt at the event.
The Oscar-winning star is in France to promote his new movie and was set to attend a press conference at the Palais des Festivals on Tuesday morning, yet it appears he has chosen to withdraw.
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Film director Spike Lee was present to address Denzel’s absence, and said: “The last time I was in this room, I had to apologise for a f**k up, but I won’t be apologising today for a f**k up.”
On Monday night, scenes of Denzel shouting at the waiting photographer hit the headlines and went viral on social media.
According to The Mirror, a lip reading-expert revealed that Washington snapped after being repeatedly tapped on the arm.
Denzel Washington said to the photographer: ‘Hey, one — one more time, stop.’
‘Let me tell you — stop, stop — never put your hands on me again,’ he seemingly shouted at the photographer, who had a bizarre grin plastered on his face. ‘I’m talking to you, stop, all right,’ he continued.
Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman told the Mail Online the photographer said to Denzel ‘Not allowed,’ before laughing and adding, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’
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Afterwards, he lunged at the veteran movie star again and asked “Can I take a picture?’
Denzel Washington then appeared to lose his cool and shouted back: “Stop, stop it, stop it. I mean it. Stop, stop it.’
This isn’t the first time there’s been drama on a Cannes red carpet. Only a year back, Kelly Rowland went viral after she was seen scolding a security guard.
Kelly was attending the world premiere of Marcello Mio when the incident happened.
The music star was seen smiling for photos when a female security guard seemingly followed her and guided her away from the waiting press as she tried to pose.
The guard then stepped on Kelly’s dress and continued to place her hand on her back.
In response, Kelly then turned around to speak to the security member and was seen raising a finger at her as she spoke.
Explaining the drama, Kelly said: “The woman knows what happened; I know what happened. I have a boundary, and I stand by those boundaries and that is it. And there were other women who attended that carpet, who did not look quite like me,” she added.
“And they didn’t get scolded, or pushed off or told to get off. And I stood my ground, and she felt like she had to stand hers. But I stood my ground.”
On social media, fans of Denzel Washington are keeping close tabs on the situation after Spike Lee’s statement on Tuesday morning.
