Gladiator II director Ridley Scott is shutting down claims that a same-sex kiss was cut from the new movie. Denzel Washington, who plays power-hungry former slave Macrinus in the film, recently said he kissed a man on the lips,

Actress Connie Nielsen, who reunites with Ridley Scott as she reprises her role as Lucilla from the original Gladiator, agreed with the producer, revealing that her own grieving scene was left on the cutting room floor.

The director is responding to some controversial tea the actor spilled about filming the highly-anticipated sequel.