Denzel Washington Gladiator 2

Director Ridley Scott minced no words when confronted on the red carpet by Variety’s Marc Malkin over a same-sex kiss involving Denzel Washington that was cut from the film.

Malkin’s entire job of late seems to be asking celebrities questions about alternative relationships at red carpet premieres. Known for his trademarked bow tie, horn-rimmed glasses, and scratchy voice that makes everyone listening instantly have to clear their throats, Malkin seems to have one and only one angle when asking celebrities questions.

“I gotta ask you about the Denzel kiss. He said people got chicken,” Malkin said to the director, who instantly made a face as though he’d rather be anywhere else in the world. Malkin then raises his voice at Scott, demanding “Did they get chicken!?”

At this point, Malkin keeps pushing the mic toward Scott only to bring it back to himself several times.

“Denzel kissed a man,” Malkin insisted, “and then he killed him.”

“Did he?” Scott immediately fired back.

Paul Mescal as Lucius in Gladiator II (2024), Paramount Pictures

Malkin then reiterated that Denzel said the kiss happened but got cut.

“No, that’s b*******,” Ridley Scott said, instantly dismissing the kiss and its importance to the film. “They never did. They acted the moment. It didn’t happen.”

Denzel Washington first referenced this kiss in an interview, and a legend grew around it.

“They took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken,” he said, before clarifying that the kiss wasn’t romantic in nature. “I guess they weren’t ready for that yet. I killed him about five minutes later. It’s ‘Gladiator.’ It’s the kiss of death.”

Paul Mescal as Lucius and Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius in Gladiator II (2024), Paramount Pictures

Washington later remarked on this issue, noting that the press was blowing this story out of proportion.

“It really is much ado about nothing,” Washington said at the film’s premiere. “They’re making more of it than it was. I kissed him on his hands, I gave him a peck, and I killed him.”

Malkin, seemingly unable to help himself, also asked Connie Nielsen, who reprises her role of Lucilla for the sequel. But much like Scott, Nielsen shut Malkin down immediately.

“My grieving scene didn’t make it into the film either,” Nielsen said, noting that the omission had nothing to do with prejudice. “It’s just there was no room for it.”
A screenshot from Gladiator 2

Paul Mescal as Lucius in Gladiator II (2024), Paramount Pictures

And so Marc Malkin left the Gladiator 2 premiere empty handed, having failed in his never-ending quest to shift the focus of every Hollywood project toward personal relationships.

Do you think Ridley Scott and the cast of Gladiator 2 handled Marc Malkin’s probing questions well? Why does Variety insist on letting this man bombard performers at every red carpet over identity politics? Sound off and let us know your thoughts!