Denzel Washington attended the Cannes film festival for the world premiere of his new movie Highest 2 Lowest directed by Spike Lee. While walking the red carpet the actor got into an altercation with a photographer, and that moment has gone viral.

Now, a body language expert is breaking down when Washington’s temperature rose and he got pretty angry with the paparazzo.

Expert says Washington ‘set a boundary’ the photographer didn’t respect

Honigman is a celebrity astrologer and body language expert who has been reading Tarot since the mid-90s. She has given predictions for Big Brother’s Little Brother, Elle Magazine, and talkSPORT radio to name a few. She studied the footage from Cannes and shared what she observed between the photog and the film’s star.

Speaking on behalf of Genting Casino, Honigman told Showbiz Cheat Sheet: “Denzel Washington is not playing, he’s setting a clear boundary with the photographer, and his outburst is reserved and moderate, compared with how he feels. Washington holds back his reaction, as the event is so public, but on the inside he is fuming.

“The exchange with the photographer can be taken as banter, because the snapper never stops smiling, and he clearly sees the interaction differently to the actor. But Washington’s facial expressions and body language clearly demonstrate that he is irritated and fed up.”

Honigman added: “The moment that the Hollywood star feels a tap on his arm, he turns over to look, already annoyed. His smile dropped and his pointing finger raised. He turns to confront the photographer and set a clear boundary. At first, it would seem that Washington would be happy with one finger jab, which means ‘back off’, and a single sentence to tell him off, but the snapper’s big grin aggravates the situation.”

When Washington’s body language ‘escalated to anger’

The expert also pinpointed that exact moment she noticed Washington’s anger show in his body language.

She explained: “When the actor notices that the photographer has not taken him seriously, his body language escalates. His repeated finger jabbing, which signifies anger, is coupled with a stern facial expression. Washington fixes the photographer with an angry gaze, raising both eyebrows in a questioning way. His raised eyebrows say ‘do you hear me?’, as he tries to get his point across. We see his chin jutting in dominance, and his lips tighten in disapproval. He’s angry without a doubt.

“When Washington has made his point, he walks away, his lips still pursed in anger, but then the photographer grabs his elbow. The photographer might be feeling playful, but the actor is having none of it. At this, the Hollywood star has had enough. He tilts his head downwards, which is a display of dominance, and his arm reaches out to restrain the photographer. As he walks away a second time, his jaw is clenched, showing that this time, he remains angry even after the interaction has ended.”

According to Honigman, the whole exchange likely left Washington annoyed for hours.

“It is possible that Washington’s uneasy exchange on the red carpet leaves him annoyed for hours, as he still appears pensive when receiving his surprise Palme d’Or award,” she noted. “Spike Lee’s facial expression conveys unbridled delight, with a raised head, toothy smile, and rounded cheeks. In comparison, the film star’s smile is mild and neutral as he holds the award, and his faraway gaze suggests that his mind is not fully there.”

Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.