Terrence Howard revealed he turned down the opportunity to star in a Marvin Gaye biopic because he was uncomfortable with portraying a gay character on screen.
During a recent appearance on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Howard called it the “biggest mistake” of his career.
Howard initially passed on a Smokey Robinson biopic at Robinson’s personal request because he was in talks with director Lee Daniels to play Marvin Gaye. Maher agreed that Gaye’s life story was more compelling, saying Howard would have been “perfect” for the role.
However, Howard ultimately walked away from the Marvin Gaye project after a conversation with music legend Quincy Jones. Howard said he asked Jones about rumors regarding Gaye’s sexuality, and Jones confirmed them. Howard explained that he could not authentically portray a gay man, saying, “If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”
He stressed that his decision wasn’t rooted in homophobia, but rather his commitment to fully inhabiting a role. “I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand,” Howard said, emphasizing he wouldn’t be able to “fake” the emotional truth required for the character.
Maher noted he understood Howard’s discomfort, even if he wouldn’t personally go as far. Howard made it clear his refusal was about personal authenticity rather than prejudice.
Howard’s remarks have sparked conversation online, adding another layer to the complex history of stalled Marvin Gaye biopic projects.
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