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US - UK Entertainment 21/05/2025 17:21

Denzel Washington Receives Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes Amid Red Carpet Incident with Photographer

Denzel Washington Receives Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes Amid Red Carpet Incident with Photographer

Denzel Washington attends the "Highest 2 Lowest" red carpet

The actor pointed his finger in the photographer's face while screaming at him.

The man grabbed Washington's arm while he was being greeted by A$AP Rocky, which appeared to set the actor off.

 The cameraman further annoyed Washington by laughing in his face.


Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky.


Director Spike Lee, producers Jason Michael Berman and Alan Fox, and cast members Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Elijah Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera, Wendell Pierce and Aubrey Joseph pose on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest"
At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed actor Denzel Washington was awarded the prestigious Honorary Palme d’Or, recognizing his outstanding contributions to cinema. The award was presented by longtime collaborator and director Spike Lee ahead of the premiere of their latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, on May 19. This marked Washington’s first attendance at Cannes and his inaugural receipt of the Honorary Palme d’Or.

While the evening was celebratory, it was not without moments of tension. During the red carpet, Washington had a brief confrontation with a photographer who reached out and touched his arm in an attempt to capture his attention. Washington firmly asked the photographer to stop, a moment that was caught on video and quickly circulated on social media.

Despite this incident, Washington’s representatives confirmed that the actor’s evening proceeded smoothly and that the encounter did not detract from the overall event’s positive atmosphere.

Highest 2 Lowest is a contemporary remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic film High and Low, reimagined in a New York setting. Washington stars as David King, a music mogul caught in the middle of a complicated kidnapping case. This project represents the fifth collaboration between Washington and Spike Lee, following acclaimed works such as Malcolm X and Inside Man.

The film is scheduled for release in U.S. theaters on August 22, 2025, and will be available for streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 5, 2025.

Character Biographies and Context
  • Denzel Washington: Born in 1954, Denzel Washington is a celebrated American actor and filmmaker known for his powerful performances and commanding screen presence. He has won multiple Academy Awards and is recognized as one of Hollywood’s leading talents.
  • Spike Lee: Born in 1957, Spike Lee is an influential American filmmaker, director, and producer, known for his socially conscious films and long-standing collaborations with top actors like Denzel Washington.

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