Denzel Washington lashes out at photographer in explosive Cannes Film Festival exchange

Denzel Washington lashed out an overzealous photographer as he attended the Cannes premiere of his movie Highest 2 Lowest on Monday.

The iconic actor, 70, was filmed pointing his finger in the face of one of the snappers and shouting ‘Stop it!’ during the dramatic exchange.

The drama began when Washington appeared to tell off the photographer for tapping him on the arm as he walked the red carpet with co-star A$AP Rocky, 36.

The photographer was seen smiling and laughing while he was being chastised by the star – before grabbing the Training Day star’s arm once again.

An irate Washington then flung the photographer’s hand away and shouted ‘Stop it, stop it!’ before storming off.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Washington for comment.

Denzel Washington lashed out an overzealous photographer as he attended the Cannes premiere of his movie Highest 2 Lowest on Monday

The iconic actor, 70, was filmed pointing his finger in the face of one of the snappers and shouting ‘Stop it!’ during the dramatic exchange which was captured on video

Despite his spat, Washington was in great spirits when he was surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or award by director Spike Lee.

Cannes changed some of its scheduling to accommodate Washington’s trip, which came amid his lone off-day while performing Othello in New York.

Handing the award over to Washington, Spike said: ‘This is my brother, right here.’

‘This is a total surprise for me!’ the actor replied.

The actor, who posed for photos with Spike and co-star A$AP Rocky, showed no signs of jet lag and was expected to fly back to New York immediately after the screening.

When the festival first announced its lineup last month, Highest 2 Lowest wasn’t included.

But within hours, however, Spike himself announced the film was heading to Cannes and representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Denzel would attend the red carpet.

Highest 2 Lowest, is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, and will be released in theatres by A24 August 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ September 5.

The exchange began when Washington appeared to tell off the photographer who smiled, laughed and grabbed the Training Day star’s arm

An irate Washington then flung the photographer’s hand away and shouted ‘Stop it, stop it stop it!’ before walking off

The star faced a wall of photographers but was left furious

Washington was all smiles before the encounter

The actor was seen posing with co-star A$AP Rocky

Washington was surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or award at the Film Festival (pictured right with Spike Lee, left)

In October 2024 Washington was filmed exploding at autograph hunters in New York City

The Oscar-winning actor snapped at fans as he arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art for a film benefit honoring Samuel L. Jackson – with the tense exchange captured in a dramatic video

The tirade comes seven months after Washington was filmed exploding at autograph hunters  in New York City in October 2024.

The Oscar-winning actor snapped at fans as he arrived at the Museum of Modern Art for a film benefit honoring Samuel L. Jackson – with the tense exchange captured in a dramatic video.

The Man on Fire star was seen arriving at the museum and posing with a fan – while autograph hunters called his name to the side.

A visibly annoyed Washington went to walk inside but then turned and addressed a fan in the crowd.

While the entire exchange cannot be deciphered, the actor was seen pointing his finger and heard saying: ‘I heard you. You talk about showing love…’

In 2021 Washington was snapped having an intense encounter with a fan

‘…Respecting me’ to which the fan said ‘we already do.’

Washington retorted: ‘I said I’ll see you when I get out, which part of that don’t y’all understand?

‘It’s about showing love’ – before raising his voice and declaring ‘or not, or not! we can do it another way… or not, we can do it both ways!’

He then walked inside the building after the shock incident.

And in 2021 Washington was pictured having an intense moment with a fan.

The movie star was by his car when the fan walked over to him with a sack of photos for him to sign in New York City .

The pair engaged in an intense conversation with the actor looking like he was given the fan some pearls of wisdom.

He placed his hands on his shoulder and looked deep in his eyes, looking like he was forgetting to keep socially distanced for a second.

While Denzel had his mask on, the fan had his pulled down to his chin for the moment as the Hollywood star placed his hands around his face.

An onlooker claimed he told the fan to ‘say a prayer’ but it is not known what they were talking about.