Spike Lee responds to Denzel Washington’s incident at Cannes red carpet
Spike Lee was a key figure at the Cannes Film Festival’s “Highest 2 Lowest” press conference, where he subtly acknowledged the recent commotion caused by Denzel Washington on the red carpet. Remarkably, Lee stated, “The last time I was in this room, I had to apologize for a f–k up,” alluding to when he disclosed the 2021 Palme d’Or winner as the previous Cannes jury president, a situation he had to make amends for. However, Lee made it clear that this time around, he had no apologies to offer for any wrongdoing.
During this event, Washington, who stars in Lee’s new film, was noticeably absent from the press conference following his viral fracas with a photographer on the red carpet. Despite their history of collaborations in films such as “Mo’ Better Blues” (1990), “Malcolm X” (1992), “He Got Game” (1998), and “Inside Man” (2006), Lee openly acknowledged that this could potentially be their last collaboration.
Moreover, Lee expressed deep admiration for Washington’s acting prowess, particularly praising his performance in “Malcolm X,” suggesting that Washington should have won an Oscar in his stead. Lee reflected on their productive history together, stating, “This is the fifth one we’ve done together. It has been a blessing, this body of work between us, doing films that people love. And I think this is it.”
After Monday’s “Highest 2 Lowest” red carpet premiere, things quickly took a turn when Washington engaged in a heated confrontation with a photographer. Washington was seen telling the photographer, “Hey, one — one more time, stop.” A lip-reading expert revealed that Washington further instructed, “Let me tell you — stop, stop — never put your hands on me again. I’m talking to you, stop, all right.” Despite the tense situation, Washington was later filled with gratitude as he received an honorary Palme d’Or award from Lee. During the heartfelt moment, Washington expressed, “This is a total surprise for me so I’m a little emotional, but from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.”
Although the incident with the photographer was intense, it appears to be water under the bridge as Washington graciously accepted the bestowed honor and shared a reflective moment with Lee, indicating that their fruitful collaboration and relationship endure despite the lapses. At this time, Washington has not provided a public statement regarding his controversial red carpet incident.