Things seemingly got tense between Denzel Washington and a pushy photographer on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet for Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest.”

Washington, who was joined by co-stars A$AP Rocky and Jeffrey Wright on the red carpet, stars as David King in the crime thriller that marks the fifth time he and Lee have worked together.

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have walked a long road together. The director and actor’s collaboration has run for 35 years, starting with “Mo’Better Blues” and including the seminal “Malcolm X.” But one thing they’ve never done is ascend the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival as comrades in arms.

Once inside the film festival, the two-time Academy Award winner was all smiles when he was bestowed the prestigious Palme d’Or honor in front of the assembled audience.