Denzel Washington misses Cannes Film Festival due to rift with Spike Lee over photographer incident

Denzel Washington skipped the press conference for Highest 2 Lowest following his altercation with a photographer at Cannes Film Festival.

The 70-year-old Oscar-winning actor surprised fans by pointing his finger at a photographer during a heated moment on Monday night.

Washington was at the Palais des Festivals promoting his new film directed by Spike Lee, alongside the rest of the cast, during a press conference on Tuesday morning.

It remains uncertain whether Washington is still in France, as reports suggest that Cannes may have adjusted its schedule to accommodate his visit while he had a day off from his performance in 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 apologising today for a f**k up.’ 

In 2021, while serving as Cannes jury president, Lee ‘messed up’ when he accidentally revealed the Palme d’Or winner, Titane, before the official announcement. 

Denzel Washington skipped the press conference for Highest 2 Lowest following his altercation with a photographer at Cannes Film Festival  

The Oscar-winning actor, 70, shocked fans on Monday night when he was seen pointing his finger in the face of one of the snappers during the dramatic exchange.(pictured on Monday) 

Highest 2 Lowest, is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, and will be released in theaters by A24 August 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ September 5. 

The stars have been on the promotional trail for the new film, but while attending the film’s premiere, Washington found himself in a red carpet altercation. 

Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman has since told DailyMail.com that the Malcolm X star appeared to have been set off by a photographer tapping him on the arm. 

Despite the intensity of his words, many of the photographers surrounding Washington — including the one he was yelling at — were smiling, suggesting that they may not have realized how upset he was.

However, the actor has a long history of tense interactions with photographers over the years. 

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Washington and Cannes Film Festival for comment. 

Before calling out the photographer, Denzel had been standing on the red carpet with his Highest 2 Lowest costar, the rapper-turned-actor A$AP Rocky, 36.

Despite his spat, Washington was in great spirits when he was later surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or award by director Spike Lee.

Director Spike Lee, 68, seemed to hint at Washington’s absence at the conference (pictured centre, with Ilfenesh Hadera and Jeffrey Wright) 

Handing the award over to Washington, Spike said: ‘This is my brother, right here.’

‘This is a total surprise for me!’ the actor replied. 

The actor, who posed for photos with Spike and A$AP Rocky, showed no signs of jet lag and was expected to fly back to New York immediately after the screening.

When the festival first announced its lineup last month, Highest 2 Lowest wasn’t included. 

But within hours, however, Spike himself announced the film was heading to Cannes and representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Denzel would attend the red carpet. 

The tirade comes seven months after Washington was filmed exploding at autograph hunters  in New York City in October 2024.

The Oscar-winning actor snapped at fans as he arrived at the Museum of Modern Art for a film benefit honoring Samuel L. Jackson – with the tense exchange captured in a dramatic video.

The Man on Fire star was seen arriving at the museum and posing with a fan – while autograph hunters called his name to the side.

A visibly annoyed Washington went to walk inside but then turned and addressed a fan in the crowd. 

Washington was surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or award at the Film Festival on Monday following his red carpet outburst

While the entire exchange cannot be deciphered, the actor was seen pointing his finger and heard saying: ‘I heard you. You talk about showing love…’

‘…Respecting me’ to which the fan said ‘we already do.’ 

Washington retorted: ‘I said I’ll see you when I get out, which part of that don’t y’all understand?

‘It’s about showing love’ – before raising his voice and declaring ‘or not, or not! we can do it another way… or not, we can do it both ways!’

He then walked inside the building after the shock incident. 

And in 2021 Washington was pictured having an intense moment with a fan.

The movie star was by his car when the fan walked over to him with a sack of photos for him to sign in New York City.

The pair engaged in an intense conversation with the actor looking like he was given the fan some pearls of wisdom.

He placed his hands on his shoulder and looked deep in his eyes, looking like he was forgetting to keep socially distanced for a second.

While Denzel had his mask on, the fan had his pulled down to his chin for the moment as the Hollywood star placed his hands around his face.

An onlooker claimed he told the fan to ‘say a prayer’ but it is not known what they were talking about.