According to TMZ, an insider on the Ridley Scott-directed movie says the kiss was cut because it was not in the script. They say Washington shot the scene several times, adding improvised elements each time. The kiss was an improvisation on his part.

Gladiator 2 arrives in theaters this weekend, and if you were hoping to see Denzel Washington’s character kiss a man, well I’ve got bad news for you. While that scene was apparently filmed, it was cut because,

Denzel Washington kissed a guy, and he'd have liked it to stay in "Gladiator II." Washington told Gayety in the below video that a kiss between his character Macrinus and another man was cut from the film because "they weren't ready for that yet.