Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Gladiator 2might not be as huge of a success as its prequel, but so far it is going well. From reviews to the cast performances, the epic historical action film has been well-received. Yet, just days into its release, the film has already stirred up controversy due to a ‘deleted’ scene.
Recently Denzel Washington revealed he had a kissing scene with a man which was deleted, leading to allegations of ‘homophobia.’ Yet, his co-star Connie Nielsen recently came to the defense of the film, denying such allegations.
Connie Nielsen Defends Deleting Denzel Washington’s Gay Scene fromGladiator 2
Ridley Scott‘s sequel to the award-winningGladiatoris finally here and so far the film has been doingbetter than what most expected. WhilePaul Mescalstars as the lead and center of the film,Denzel Washingtonas Macrinus, is the one who stole the spotlight with his impeccable performance, leading to significant Oscar buzz.
After Paul Mescal, His Most Famous Co-star Could Soon Land a Ridley Scott Film, Gladiator 2 Director’s Update Reveals
In the midst of all this praise and acclaim, the actor, in an interview withGayetyrevealed he kissed a man on the lips during one scene of the film. However, the scene never made it to the final cut and was deleted due to reasons unknown. This kicked up allegations and rumors of homophobia against the makers ofGladiator 2.
#Gladiator2star Connie Nielsen on the gay kiss that was cut from the final film: “It’s not homophobia. There was no room for it.“https://t.co/THP0HYn2wapic.twitter.com/lMLU2JcnBN
However, Washington’s co-starConnie Nielsencame to the defense of the film and the production, dismissing all such claims. In an interview withVariety, while on the Red Carpet for the Governors Awards 2024, the actress remarked,
It’s not homophobia. It’s just, there was no room for it.
Meanwhile, producer Michael Pruss too chimed in and stated that several more scenes did not make it into the film. Thus, essentially debunking the rumors of the film and makers being allegedly homophobic, they revealed the gay scene not making it into the film was due to creative decisions.
What Denzel Washinton Said About His Deleted Gay Scene
Denzel Washington gave yet another performance of a lifetime in Ridley Scott’sGladiator 2. Starring as a former slave-turned-owner of several gladiators called Macrinus, the actor is absolutely brilliant to watch and steals away the spotlight from the main leads.
May Calamawy’s Past Comments on Palestine Can Not be the Reason Why All Her Scenes Were Cut From Gladiator 2
While talking about his character in a recent interview with Gayety, Washington was asked about how ‘gay is the Roman Empire,’to which he revealedhe had a kissing scene in the film with a man. Talking about the now-deleted scene, he remarked,
I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken. I kissed a guy full on the lips and 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.
While his revelation caused a bit of controversy for the film, his response emphasizes the complex process of filmmaking and everything that goes on behind the scenes. Ultimately, even without the said scene or the plethora of other stuff not having made it into the film, there is no denying that Denzel Washington is the true star of the film.
Gladiator 2will hit the theatres in the United States on August 02, 2025.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
