Denzel Washington lashed out an over-zealous photographer as he attended the Cannes premiere of his movie Highest 2 Lowest on Monday.

The iconic actor, 70, was filmed pointing his finger in the face of one of the snappers and shouting ‘Stop it!’ during the dramatic exchange which was captured on video.

The exchange saw Washington appear to tell off the photographer who smiled, laughed and grabbed the Training Day star’s arm.

An irate Washington then flung the photographer’s hand away and shouted ‘Stop it, stop it stop it!’ before walking off. 

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Washington for comment. 

Denzel Washington lashed out an over-zealous photographer as he attended the Cannes premiere of his movie Highest 2 Lowest on Monday

The iconic actor, 70, was filmed pointing his finger in the face of one of the snappers and shouting ‘Stop it!’ during the dramatic exchange which was captured on video 

Washington was all smiles elsewhere on the day when he was surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or award.

The legendary actor was attending the premiere of his latest film Highest 2 Lowest during the event in which director Spike Lee presented him with the award. 

Cannes changed some of its scheduling to accommodate Denzel’s trip, which came amid his lone off-day while performing Othello in New York. 

Handing the award over to Denzel, Spike said: ‘This is my brother, right here.’

‘This is a total surprise for me!’ the actor replied. 

The festival usually gives out one or two honorary Palmes each edition with Robert De Niro receiving one on the festival’s opening night.

Roberts’s award was announced in advance, but surprise prizes aren’t unheard of: In 2022, Tom Cruise was presented with a surprise honorary Palme d’Or just before the screening of Top Gun: Maverick.

While the festival’s photo calls usually happen the day after a film’s premiere, Cannes hosted one for Highest 2 Lowest earlier so that Denzel could attend. 

The actor, who posed for photos with Spike and co-star A$AP Rocky, showed no signs of jet lag and was expected to fly back to New York immediately after the screening.

When the festival first announced its lineup last month, Highest 2 Lowest wasn’t included. 

But within hours, however, Spike himself announced the film was heading to Cannes and representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Denzel would attend the red carpet.

Highest 2 Lowest, is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, and will be released in theatres by A24 August 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ September 5.