Terrence Howard Says He Turned Down Marvin Gaye Role
Terrence Howard Says He Turned Down Marvin Gaye Role “That Ain’t Me”
Terrence Howard Says He Turned Down Marvin Gaye Role Over Same-Sex Kiss
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Terrence Howard recently opened up about why he passed on playing the legendary Marvin Gaye in a biopic — and his reason has sparked some serious conversation.
During a sit-down on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, the Empire actor revealed he was in talks to portray Gaye in a project directed by Lee Daniels.
But after a conversation with music mogul Quincy Jones — who allegedly confirmed long-standing rumors that Gaye may have been attracted to men — Howard says he backed out of the role.
“I was at Quincy Jones’ house, and I asked him straight up, ‘Was Marvin gay?’ And he said yes,” Howard recalled.
That moment became a dealbreaker.
Howard told Maher he didn’t feel comfortable portraying someone who might have engaged in same-sex relationships, especially if it meant performing an on-screen kiss with a man.
“They would’ve wanted to do that,” Howard said. “And I wouldn’t have been able to. I don’t fake stuff.”
He took it even further, saying, “If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”
Howard, however, pushed back against claims that his stance was rooted in homophobia.
“It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man,” he said, explaining that it was more about staying true to himself and the limits of his acting. “I can’t play that character 100%. I can’t surrender myself to a place I don’t understand,” he added.
This isn’t the first time Howard has spoken on the issue.
Earlier this month on the PBD Podcast, he said, “I don’t compromise. I don’t play gay roles. I don’t kiss a man. I don’t do that s*** because the man card means everything.”
Howard’s comments have stirred up debate online, especially within the Black community, where conversations about masculinity, queerness, and representation in media are often layered and complex.
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