Denzel Washington revealed that a same-sex kiss he performed as Macrinus in the upcoming Gladiator II was edited out of the film, raising questions about LGBTQ+ content in mainstream media. In interviews, Washington humorously noted the kiss was cut due to perceived audience readiness and described it as the 'kiss of death.' Alongside, actor Paul Mescal mentioned a forehead kiss scene with Pedro Pascal that was also removed. The film, directed by Ridley Scott, opens in theaters soon, prompting debates on the portrayal of queer relationships in Hollywood.