Ridley Scott Denies There Was a Same-Sex Kiss Cut from 'Gladiator II'

"Gladiator II" director Ridley Scott called "bs" on the claim that a same-sex kiss between Denzel Washington and another actor was cut from the movie, Variety reported.

"No, that's bullshit," Variety writer Marc Malkin quoted the British director saying. "They never did," Scott went on to add. "They acted the moment – it didn't happen."

As previously reported, Washington brought up the alleged kiss in a recent interview, saying he locked lips with another male actor in the film, but "they got chicken" and the moment ended up on the cutting room floor.

"I kissed a guy full on the lips," Washington said, "and I guess they weren't ready for that yet."

In an earlier article, Variety noted that Washington's character, Macrinus – "a wealthy powerbroker in Rome who keeps a stable of gladiators for sport" – is referred to in the film as having had same-sex relationships.

Washington said in the interview that the kiss was the prelude for a lethal twist: "I killed him about five minutes later," the actor revealed. "It's 'Gladiator.' It's the kiss of death."

But the kiss, Washington clarified at the same Hollywood premiere for the film where Scott made his denial, was "a peck" rather than a full-on snog, Variety relayed.

Calling attention to the cut moment "much ado about nothing," Washington added: "They're making more of it than it was. I kissed him on his hands, I gave him a peck and I killed him."

Connie Nielsen – who returns to the sequel after having starred in the 2000 original – offered some perspective on the supposedly excised moment.

"My grieving scene didn't make it into the film either," Malkin quoted Nielsen telling him. "It's not homophobia. It's just there was no room for it."

"There was so much stuff that was shot that didn't make it into the film," seconded Michael Pruss, one of the film's producers. "It was truly a non-event."

Whatever the case of the cut kiss might be, fans of the original are sure to show up – as are fans of Irish actor Paul Mescal, who stars as Lucius, the son of the original film's hero, Maximus (Russell Crowe). Mescal, who co-starred in the gay romance "All of Us Strangers" with Andrew Scott (and who is slated to share the screen with "Challengers" star Josh O'Connor in Oliver Hermanus' upcoming same-sex drama "The History of Sound") has declared that "Gladiator II" will find an eager audience among the LGBTQ+ crowd.

"I think this film is for the guys, the gays, the girls, the mums, the dads," Variety quoted Mescal saying. "The bros will love it as well, don't get me wrong."