Denzel Washington Reveals Cut Same-Sex Kiss in Gladiator II

Denzel Washington recently revealed an intimate scene from Gladiator II that never made the final cut. In an interview with Gayety, the actor discussed a same-sex kiss between his character, Macrinus, and another man. The kiss, which was improvised during filming, was excluded from the movie, a decision Denzel attributed to the producers “getting chicken.”

According to a production insider, the kiss was not part of the script but emerged during an unscripted take. The source clarified that the decision to cut the scene, along with other improvised moments, was purely a narrative choice with no bias involved.

The brief kiss, set in Ancient Rome, was less romantic and more dramatic, as Denzel’s character kills his on-screen partner shortly after the embrace. In the highly anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, Denzel portrays Macrinus, a former slave scheming to seize power in Rome.

The movie, a follow-up to the iconic 2000 blockbuster, has fans eagerly awaiting its release, though Denzel’s candid remarks have sparked discussions about representation and creative choices in Hollywood.