A rep for Denzel Washington is speaking out to explain why the actor missed his movie’s press conference during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
The Oscar-winning actor walked the red carpet, and then received a special Palme d’Or Award, for the premiere of his new movie Highest 2 Lowest on Monday night (May 19) in Cannes, France.
Denzel also made headlines for getting into an altercation with a photographer on the red carpet, but that has nothing to do with his absence at the press conference on Tuesday.
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Director Spike Lee and actors Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera were present for questions during the press conference, but Denzel and co-star A$AP Rocky both skipped the event.
Denzel‘s rep has explained that his absence was always planned.
The rep told Us Weekly that Denzel was “always scheduled to be in and out of Cannes on Monday” because of his performance schedule in the Broadway play Othello. He had to travel back to New York City for a Tuesday night show.
“The studio and festival were aware weeks ago, ahead of time, that he would not be available for the press conference today due to his work commitment on the play,” the rep said.
Denzel is one of several movie stars who were snubbed by the Tony Awards this year.
