Director Ridley Scott added that it's "bullshit" a prolonged kiss was even filmed, as Washington later clarified it was just a "peck" and the discord is "really much ado about nothing."

Denzel Washington made a bold claim when he said he’d kissed a man for Gladiator II but “they” were too chicken to include it in the final cut. Washington didn’t clarify who “they” were, but in any case,

Denzel Washington may have said that his same-sex kiss in “Gladiator II” was cut from the movie because the powers that be got “chicken,” but, according to director Ridley Scott, the kiss may not have happened at all.