Denzel Washington Appears to Fight Back Against Pushy Cannes Photographer During Tense Red Carpet Moment

Denzel Washington left many fans shocked after appearing to lash out at an overzealous photographer while attending the premier of his movie Highest 2 Lowest at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday. The actor headlines the movie, his fifth collaboration with Lee, and appeared at Cannes for the first time since 1993’s “Much Ado About Nothing’ brought him to the festival.

The Oscar-winning actor, 70, was seen pointing his finger in the face of one of the snappers during the dramatic exchange. As Washington approaches, the photographer is seen trying to laugh off the confrontation and he puts his hands around the actor’s arm.

Washington pulls himself away and again tells the photographer to shop. The photographers ate Cannes are known to be shouty as they vie for stars’ attention.Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman exclusively revealed that the Malcolm X star appears to have been set off by a photographer tapping him on the arm.

As Washington turns to the photographer, he appears to shout: ‘Hey, one — one more time, stop.

‘Let me tell you — stop, stop — never put your hands on me again,’ he seems to tell the photographer, who had a grin plastered on his face throughout the exchange.

‘I’m talking to you, stop, all right,’ he continued.

It is not clear if Washington is still in France, with Cannes said to have changed some of its scheduling to accommodate his trip and his off-day while performing Othello in New York.Seeming to hint at Washington’s scandal, Lee, 68, quipped at the press conference: ‘The last time I was in this room, I had to apologise for a f**k up, but I won’t be apologizing today for a f**k up.’

Washington’s night rebounded once the ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ premiere began. The actor was awarded a surprise Honorary Palme d’Or by Lee before the screening started. Cannes festival director Thierry Fremaux also introduced a montage of Washington’s films, including ‘Malcolm X’ and ‘Mo Better Blues,’ both directed by Lee- as well as his Oscar-winning performances in “Glory” and “Training Day.”

Directed by Lee, “Highest 2 Lowest” is an English-language remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low.” Lee’s reimagining is set-in modern-day New York and stars Washington as a music mogul tied up in a life-or-death ransom plot.

“Highest 2 Lowest” will be released in theatres Aug. 22 and stream on Apple TV+ starting Sept.5.