Denzel Washington revealed that his same-sex kiss scene was cut from the final film of Gladiator II.

During a recent interview with Gayety about the historical epic, Washington was asked, “How gay is it Roman Empire?” His answer led to a bombshell that no one expected.

“I actually kissed a man in the movie, but they took it out, they cut it,” the actor said. “I think they have cubs.”

Washington added that the moment wasn’t just a peck or a kiss on the forehead.

“I kissed a guy on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet,” he said. “I killed him about five minutes later. Its Gladiator. It’s the kiss of death.”

Washington stars in the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 action film as Macrinus, a former slave who won his freedom in the arena. Principal Ridley Scottwho also directed the original Gladiatorteased earlier this month that Washington’s character had a “flash” of bisexuality.

“There is a glimmer. He is also a gangster. I think he was clearly a prisoner of war, went to the ring, won his freedom, suddenly working in a huge bakery and supplying bread for the Roman army,” Scott said in an interview with The New York Times. “Maybe he eventually picked up on that, then he goes to ammunition, so he’s an arms dealer. I thought that was his evolution. He said, “Oh, I like that. I’m a gangster.”

In addition to Washington, Gladiator II distribution includes Paul Mescal and Peter Pascal. Mescal, 28, plays Lucius, who is the former heir to Rome and forced to become a gladiator. Pascal, 49, plays a general named Marcus. While their characters are rivals on screen, the actors teased that they also shared a tender moment in the film. But just like Washington’s same sex scenewas also cut.

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King Charles III, who is battling cancer, appeared to be in good spirits during a royal meeting with the cast of the Gladiator sequel. Charles happily greeted Gladiator II stars Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal and Connie Nielsen at the film’s premiere in London on Wednesday, November 13. He was photographed arriving at the Odeon Lux theater (…)

“There was a moment when I was rehearsing my fight scene with Pedro and I had an idea towards the end of the scene to kiss Pedro on the forehead,” Mescal told Entertainment Weekly in October. “I did it in one of the innings, and then we were radioing back to Ridley (in the video village) and I was like, ‘Ridley: Kiss on the forehead, did you like it?’ Yes or no? There was radio silence for a second. His radio crackles back and (Ridley) says, “I’m afraid I did.”

While Scott found the moment endearing, the scene didn’t make the final cut.

Gladiator II hits theaters Friday, November 22.