Cannes 2025: Denzel Washington presented surprise honourary Palme d'Or by Spike Lee
Festival director Thierry Frémaux introduced the award presentation, which caught Washington off guard. Lee, who has worked with Washington on five films, formally presented the honor. The audience responded with a standing ovation as Washington took the stage to accept the recognition.
'This is a total surprise for me, so I'm emotional,' Washington said during his remarks. 'It's a great opportunity to collaborate with my brother once again… From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.'
The award marks a rare moment in the festival's history, as the honourary Palme d'Or has only been presented 22 times since its inception in 2002. While another honorary Palme was awarded earlier in the festival to Robert De Niro, that announcement had been made in advance. Washington's recognition was kept under wraps, making him only the second recipient in recent years to receive the award as a surprise, following Tom Cruise in 2022.
Washington's appearance at Cannes comes during a break from his Broadway run in Othello, in which he stars opposite Jake Gyllenhaal. Like most Broadway productions, the show is dark on Mondays, allowing him to attend the festival briefly.
Washington is a two-time Academy Award winner, earning Best Supporting Actor for Glory and Best Actor for Training Day. He also received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture for Fences, which he directed and starred in. His accolades include a Tony Award for Fences on stage and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Highest 2 Lowest marks Washington and Lee's first film collaboration in nearly two decades. Their previous work together includes Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man.
With this award, Washington joins an exclusive list of recipients that includes more names like Jane Fonda, Clint Eastwood, Jodie Foster, and Meryl Streep.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Who Is Ruchi Gujjar? Model Who Slapped Man Singh In Theatre Over Rs 25 Lakh Fraud
Last Updated: Who is Ruchi Gujjar? The actress who went viral for slapping actor Man Singh over an alleged ₹25 lakh scam during a Mumbai screening. Actress and model Ruchi Gujjar caused a major stir at a Mumbai theatre during a screening of the film Solang Valley, when she was caught on video slapping actor-producer Man Singh with a chappal. The shocking incident, which quickly went viral, is reportedly linked to a financial dispute between Ruchi and another producer, Karan Singh Chauhan. According to Ruchi, Chauhan allegedly cheated her out of ₹25 lakh under the pretext of investing in a television serial and falsely claimed association with Sony TV. She later discovered, she says, that the funds were diverted towards the production of Solang Valley. Ruchi's Allegations Ruchi has filed an FIR against Karan Singh Chauhan with Mumbai Police under sections 318(4), 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In her statement, Ruchi said, 'When I got the information that the film is releasing on July 27, I told him to return my money now, on which he started threatening me." She added that she had been misled under the false promise of television work, and was shocked to see the funds allegedly used to back a feature film instead. The situation escalated publicly at the screening, where her confrontation with actor Man Singh led to a slap caught on camera. Who Is Ruchi Gujjar? If the name Ruchi Gujjar rings a bell, it might be from her recent appearance at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The 27-year-old actress and model made headlines internationally when she walked the red carpet wearing a custom necklace featuring the image of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi—an audacious fashion and political statement that instantly went viral. Born in Mehara Gujarwas Khetri village in Rajasthan, Ruchi grew up in an army household—her father serves in the Indian armed forces. A graduate of Maharani College in Jaipur, she later moved to Mumbai to pursue her acting dreams. She's known for starring in several hit music videos including Jab Tu Meri Na Rahi, Heli Mein Chor, and Ek Ladki opposite actor Aman Verma. In a past interview with BollywoodMDB, Ruchi reflected on the cultural challenges she faced, 'It wasn't easy coming from a place where women are expected to follow tradition. But I knew I wanted something different for myself." She spoke candidly about growing up in a Gujjar family where pursuing a career in the entertainment industry was far from the norm, 'It was a difficult path, especially because women in my community are not allowed to take up careers like acting. But I fought for it." Political and Industry Reactions The incident has sent ripples through both entertainment and political circles. Footage of the slap has drawn varied reactions online, with some praising her for standing up against alleged fraud, while others questioned the public display. As Solang Valley released on July 27, the controversy has only amplified public interest in the film—but it has also raised difficult questions about transparency, trust, and exploitation in independent film financing. First Published: July 26, 2025, 16:59 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Ishaan Khatter on guarding his love life with girlfriend Chandni Bainz: ‘I act for the cameras, but…'
Actor Ishaan Khatter, who is rumoured to be dating Malaysian model Chandni Bainz, has consistently chosen to keep his personal life away from the spotlight. Although the duo has yet to officially confirm their relationship, their frequent public appearances together have kept the rumour mills buzzing. Recently, the actor opened up about why he believes it's crucial to maintain privacy in matters of the heart. Ishaan Khatter emphasises balancing public life and personal space, stating he won't hide but also won't live for the cameras. Ishaan Khatter on his dating life In a candid and exclusive conversation with Zoom, Ishaan discussed the importance of keeping romantic relationships private, emphasising the need to respect a partner's space, especially when one half of the relationship lives in the spotlight. 'I think it's really important to respect the privacy of your partner as well. You are in the limelight for whatever reason, but people are curious, they want to know. But when something is good, you want to protect it. That's my instinct. I don't want to hide or lie or anything," Ishaan said. While Ishaan made it clear he's not trying to keep his personal life completely private, he draws a firm line between sharing and oversharing. 'I am not going to stop living my life. I am in my 20s and I am not going to hide in a hole. I am not going to not go out and have a meal if I want to—you can't stop living your life. At the same time, I am not going to allow that to dictate how I think and feel and every decision I make. Because you have to be aware of what the conversation is. But if you are doing that, you are living for the cameras. I act for the cameras, but I can't live for the cameras,' Ishaan added. Ishaan Khatter's latest projects Ishaan is gearing up for the release of Homebound, an emotional drama helmed by acclaimed director Neeraj Ghaywan. The film, which also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa, had its international premiere in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The 29-year-old star was recently seen in the Netflix romantic comedy The Royals as Aviraaj Singh, shared screen space with Bhumi Pednekar, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Dino Morea, Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, and Milind Soman. Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, Ishaan is set to return in Season 2, with the original ensemble cast reprising their roles.


Mint
9 hours ago
- Mint
Ethan Slater shares how being part of Wicked franchise changed his life in 'huge way'
Washington DC [US], July 26 (ANI): Ethan Slater, who played Boq Woodsman in the musical film 'Wicked' and will reprise his role in 'Wicked: For Good', opened up on his journey in the film and how it has impacted him personally and professionally, reported People. "It's a hard question to think about how it's impacted my career, because it's all sort of like ongoing, one foot in front of the other," said Slater while attending San Diego Comic-Con. He added, "It's been a big part of making those childhood dreams come true," Slater said of being a part of the Wicked franchise. "I saw Wicked on Broadway with my, I think, fifth-grade class. We went on a school trip before the Tonys. It just opened, and we went, and I saw it, and that was one of the first shows that I saw," as per the outlet. "And then I brought my niece to see it for her ninth birthday," Slater continued. "I got to see it again with new eyes, and see what it must have felt like for me to see that. And so it's been such a huge part of me to now be a part of it, to be a part of Wicked, that's changed my life in a huge way," reported People. 'Wicked' is a movie adaptation of Winnie Holzman's 2003 Tony Award-winning musical, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. The film chronicles the story of an unusual relationship between the soon-to-be Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the South, and how their lives are altered once they meet the great and powerful Wizard of Oz. 'Wicked: For Good' is an upcoming musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The sequel to Wicked (2024) adapts the second act of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which was loosely based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, itself a reimagining of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum reprise their roles from the first film. (ANI)