Denzel Washington in Heated Exchange with Photographer at Cannes Film Festival

At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival premiere of Highest 2 Lowest, Denzel Washington was involved in a tense exchange with a photographer on the red carpet. While speaking with director Spike Lee, a photographer grabbed Washington’s arm to get his attention. The actor responded sternly, warning the photographer to stop. Despite the warning, the photographer repeated the action, prompting Washington to push his hand away and reiterate his demand to stop. Lip reader Jeremy Freeman later confirmed that Washington expressed his discomfort, saying, “Never put your hands on me again.” 

Despite the incident, the evening turned celebratory when Washington received a surprise honorary Palme d’Or, presented by director Spike Lee. In his acceptance speech, Washington expressed his gratitude, stating, “This is a total surprise for me, so I’m a little emotional, but from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.” 

Highest 2 Lowest, directed by Spike Lee, is a modern adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low. The film stars Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, Jeffrey Wright, and Ilfenesh Hadera. It is scheduled for theatrical release on August 22, 2025, followed by a streaming release on Apple TV+ on September 5.