Cannes: Acclaimed actor Denzel Washington was awarded the prestigious honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday night in recognition of his outstanding contributions to cinema.

However, the celebratory moment took a tense turn on the red carpet when Washington became involved in a heated exchange with a photographer.

The incident occurred ahead of the premiere of Washington’s latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, directed by Spike Lee.

According to a report by Page Six, the Hollywood veteran was walking the red carpet when he began exchanging sharp words with a photographer positioned among the press corps.

Eyewitnesses said Washington approached the individual, pointed his finger directly at him, and appeared to reprimand the photographer. In an attempt to defuse the situation, the photographer reached out and grabbed Washington’s arm, which only escalated the tension. The actor was seen brushing off the hand and firmly repeating, "Stop it, stop it, stop it," before walking away.

Prior to the incident, Washington had been seen warmly engaging with co-star A$AP Rocky and was in conversation nearby as director Spike Lee spoke with the rapper. The altercation drew attention from onlookers and briefly interrupted the flow of the red carpet proceedings.

Despite the disruption, the evening held a significant moment for Washington. Just before the screening of Highest 2 Lowest, Cannes festival director Thierry Frémaux took to the stage to present the actor with the honorary Palme d’Or – a rare accolade reserved for those who have made extraordinary contributions to film. Washington becomes only the 22nd recipient of the honour.

Unlike the honorary Palme d’Or presented to Robert De Niro earlier this year, which was announced in advance, Washington's award was a complete surprise.

The celebrated actor, who is currently performing on Broadway in Othello, made a brief trip to France to attend the festival.