Let’s get one thing straight: Denzel Washington doesn’t do drama… unless it’s scripted, Oscar-worthy, and shot in IMAX. But Cannes 2025? It gave us a rare, unscripted Denzel moment and naturally, the internet cannot stop talking about it.
So, what exactly happened on that red carpet? And more importantly, did the man still leave like a legend? (Spoiler alert: yes, yes he did.)
It all started on the red carpet of the Highest 2 Lowest premiere; Spike Lee’s latest film, where Denzel shares screen time with A$AP Rocky (and yes, Rihanna showed up too, but we already covered that slay).
Denzel, dressed in a sleek all-black suit and radiating that signature “I’m not here for games” energy, was having a chat with Rocky when something, or someone, threw off the vibe.
Cue the paparazzi frenzy. Cameras flashing. Names being yelled. And then, out of nowhere, Denzel turns sharply to one photographer and says, “Stop it. Stop it.” The man reportedly tried to lighten the moment with a laugh and a gentle arm grab; and Denzel? Released his arm and walked off. Mic drop.
Was it a full meltdown? No. Was it enough to set Twitter/X ablaze with takes like “Denzel had his Bad Bunny moment”? Absolutely.
Source Image: Getty Images
While the red carpet clip went viral for the wrong reasons, the Cannes Film Festival had much bigger plans for Mr. Washington. Like, oh, we don’t know… a surprise honorary Palme d’Or?
Yes. Cannes literally reshuffled its schedule to fit Denzel in for one day. One. Day. He flew in between Broadway performances of Othello, strolled onto the red carpet, had a tiny spat with the paparazzi, got handed a literal golden trophy by Spike Lee, posed with Rocky, watched his film premiere, and flew back to NYC, all in the same 24 hours.
When Festival Director Thierry Frémaux handed over the award, Denzel looked visibly shocked. “This is a total surprise for me,” he said. Let’s be real, even his surprise was cool, calm, and collected.
Let’s just say this Cannes moment hit every algorithm. Voice search is full of “What did Denzel Washington say at Cannes?” and “Why was Denzel Washington mad at paparazzi?” while Reddit is convinced the moment is giving Training Day meets press junket fatigue.
Some fans defended him, saying the man was clearly jet-lagged and just wanted peace. Others wondered if he was channeling a little Macbeth energy (wrong Shakespeare, but we’ll allow it). Either way, everyone agrees: the man still owned the day.
Source Image: Getty Images
Denzel Washington is 70. He’s got two Oscars. He’s playing Othello on Broadway. He just starred in a Spike Lee film. He got a surprise Palme d’Or. And yes, he may have checked a pap with a “stop it” that probably echoed into their soul.
But here’s the thing, legends move differently. And Denzel? He might’ve lost his cool for a second, but he never lost the spotlight.
So if you’re wondering, “Did Denzel Washington cause drama at Cannes?”, the answer is: just enough to remind you he’s human. And then he flew back to run the world some more.
Stay tuned for more Cannes chaos, only here at Vogue Vocal, where red carpets are never boring, and even a Denzel side-eye is breaking news.
Are the men in house ready to take their style game up a notch? Aly at Vogue Vocal is the eyes and ears of entertainment industry with that Gen-Z x-factor! Aly’s personal style statement raises the bar high and knocks it out of the park so trust him for picking the best for Vocal Fashion, our e-magazine edit, the heart and soul of Vogue Vocal!
