Denzel Washington reacts to photographer before receiving honorary Palme d'Or

Denzel Washington had a heated confrontation with a groping photographer at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival before receiving the honorary Palme d'Or.

While walking the red carpet at the premiere of Spike Lee's film Highest 2 Lowest (on May 19), actor Denzel Washington (70 years old) surprised the audience when he got angry and said a few words to one of the many photographers lined up to take pictures of the stars of the event.

Washington walked up to the photographer, pointed his index finger at him and appeared to reprimand him after he was seen touching the actor.

Denzel Washington reacts to a photographer

PHOTO: YOUTUBE

The photographer laughed and tried to keep the moment light by grabbing the Oscar winner's arm, but that only made the situation worse.

“Stop, stop, stop,” Denzel Washington repeated as he shook the man's hand off his arm and walked away.

Washington was chatting with co-star A$AP Rocky before the incident. When director Spike Lee walked over to talk to the rapper, Washington turned his attention to the photographer who was talking.

Despite the tense situation, the actor was all smiles as he entered the theater, where he, Lee and Rocky received a standing ovation for their performances in the film.

Highest 2 Lowest marks Washington and Lee's fifth collaboration, and their first in nearly 20 years.

They previously collaborated on Inside Man (2006), He Got Game (1998), Malcolm X (1992), Mo' Better Blues (1990).

Denzel Washington receives honorary Palme d'Or

PHOTO: AFP

Denzel Washington unexpectedly receives honorary Palme d'Or

The American actor unexpectedly received the honorary Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival on the evening of May 19, recognizing his outstanding career.

The two-time Oscar winner's roles range from black activist Malcolm X to the drunken but heroic pilot in Flight . His role as a renegade detective in Training Day earned him his second Oscar in 2002 after his first win in 1990 for Glory .

Denzel Washington also directed and starred in the film The Great Debaters (2007) about a professor who coaches the debate team from a historically black college in America to national glory, and produced and starred in the television series Antwone Fisher .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/denzel-washington-phan-ung-voi-nhiep-anh-gia-truoc-khi-nhan-canh-co-vang-danh-du-185250520075538769.htm