Denzel Washington left Cannes for ‘Othello’ in NYC, not over pap spat

Denzel Washington did indeed skip out early on the 2025 Cannes Film Festival — but not for the reasons that have been widely reported.

Despite some chatter that the two-time Oscar winner’s heated interaction on Monday with an aggressive paparazzo on the red carpet at the premiere of Spikes Lee‘s “Highest 2 Lowest” caused his early departure, his obligation to the hit Broadway production of “Othello” was the true factor.

An unidentified source — likely associated with the production — poo-pooed the salacious scuttlebutt, noting that Washington was only available to attend the early part of the premiere because he was off from the hit pay on Monday.

According to TMZ, the insider revealed that it was always planned for him to “jet after his film’s festival screening in France.”  The Barrymore Theatre, where “Othello” is performed eight times a week, is dark on Mondays.

Denzel Washington as Othello in "Othello" on Broadway. (Julieta Cervante)

And Washington couldn’t afford to miss a performance of the starry revival of the beloved Shakespearean tragedy, which has broken box office records.

Though the Kenny Leon-helmed production didn’t receive any nominations at the 2025 Tony Awards, it remains one of the hottest shows in town — with some tickets selling for as much as $900 apiece.

The 70-year-old’s appearance at this year’s festival marked his first time at Cannes. He got a career-defining surprise on Monday when he was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or prize, the festival’s top honor.

Spike Lee is seen on stage with Denzel Washington, posing after receiving an honorary Palme d’Or, after a screening for ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on Monday. (Valery Hache/Pool/Getty Images)

Lee, who also worked with Washington on “Mo Betta Blues,” “Malcolm X” and “Inside Man,” presented the award to the man he called his “brother from another mother.”

“Highest 2 Lowest” — set to hit theaters on April 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ in September —is a reimagining of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low” centered on the music industry.

Co-starring rapper A$AP Rocky and featuring Jeffrey Wright, LaChanze, Wendell Pierce and Ice Spice (in her film debut), the drama centers on a life-or-death ransom plot.

https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/05/20/denzel-washington-left-cannes-early-othello-paparazzi-spat/