Denzel Washington Walks Back Same-Sex Kiss Claim After Ridley Scott’s Denial

Denzel Washington is walking back his claim a same-sex kiss was cut from “Gladiator II” … after director Ridley Scott said the lip lock “didn’t happen.”

We’re not sure what was more tense at the Los Angeles premiere for the ‘Gladiator’ sequel … the action on the big screen, or Denzel and Ridley addressing the now debated man-on-man smooch.

Denzel, who plays a former slave-turned-arms dealer named Macrinus in the flick, said the reaction to his comments was “much ado about nothing” … accusing the media of making it more than it was.

This was strikingly different from his previous claim, in which he said in an on-camera interview that he “actually kissed a man in the film” … claiming the creative team “took it out” because they were “chicken.”

Denzel is seemingly trying to bury the comment … even though he clearly made the controversial claim.

Perhaps he’s trying to appease Ridley, who said the kiss never happened during filming … calling Denzel’s recollection “bulls***” at the L.A. premiere.

He added … “They never did. They acted the moment — it didn’t happen.”

Someone off-camera also assured Ridley they “went back and looked at the film,” claiming there was “never” a kiss scene to cut. The off-camera voice has yet to be identified.

Despite the he-said, he-said smooch saga, “Gladiator II” is set to be a blockbuster this weekend … though, it is facing some fierce competition against the “Wicked” movie.