Denzel Washington descended upon the French Riviera this week for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where both a lifetime achievement award and an eager photographer awaited his attention.

Denzel Washington appeared to get into a spat with a photographer while walking the red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, and a video of the exchange has gone viral on social media. Newsweek reached out to Washington's representative via email for comment.

Other winners of the honorary Palme d’Or since it was first presented in 2002 include Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Clint Eastwood, and just last year, Meryl Streep and George Lucas. Also notable last year was the first time a company won versus an actor, when beloved animation giant and Hayao Miyazaki house Studio Ghibli nabbed the honor.