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."

As Gladiator 2 nears its release, director Ridley Scott and actor Denzel Washington addressed reports of a deleted same-s*x kiss scene, clarifying its absence from the final cut. Cast members Connie Nielsen and producer Michael Pruss also discussed the film’s edits and their impact on the story.