Terrence Howard Shocked Fans by Rejecting Marvin Gaye Role Over Gay Kiss Scene

Terrence Howard did not want to get it on in a Marvin Gaye biopic.

The former Empire cast member declined an offer to portray the late music legend in a film, as it seemed the character may have been required to share a kiss with another man.

On the April 27th episode of Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Howard acknowledged that he wouldn’t have been capable of doing what was discussed, stating, “That would be a challenge for me. I would rather lose my lips than attempt it.

He continued, “If I kissed a man, I would cut my lips off.”

He confessed that he couldn’t give a full performance of the character, stating that it wasn’t something he could pull off entirely.

Howard added, “I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand.”

In 1984, Marvin Gay Sr., Gaye’s father, fatally shot him when he was 44 years old. Throughout his life, he was married to Anna Gordy from 1963 until their divorce in 1977 and then to Janis Hunter from 1977 until they split up in 1982.

Despite not publicly identifying as queer, Howard feels that filmmakers might have delved into Gaye’s rumored homosexuality if making a biopic. To gain a richer understanding of Gaye’s personality, the actor from “Fight Night” communicated with his collaborator on “What’s Going On,” Quincy Jones (who passed away from pancreatic cancer in November), but eventually declined the role.

According to Howard, he visited Quincy Jones’ residence and inquired about the rumors concerning Marvin’s sexual orientation. Howard asked, “Were rumors true that he was gay?” To which Quincy responded affirmatively, saying, “Yes.

For Howard, rejecting the part as Smokey Robinson in that movie was arguably his most significant career misstep.

Howard’s biggest professional blunder was declining the opportunity to play Smokey Robinson in a different film.

Howard explained that Smokey Robinson invited him for a dinner, but what he really wanted was for Howard to portray his life. However, Howard had to decline as he was already negotiating with the producers of the Marvin Gaye biopic.

He went on to say, “Since I’d made a promise as a man, Smokey, I had to reveal it to him at the table, and it shattered his heart.

Although Howard declined roles in both biographical films, continue reading to discover which stars took on the challenge of portraying real-life personalities instead.

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The actress portrayed the late Tejano star for the Netflix show Selena: The Series.

In 2021, the actress clinched her initial Golden Globe award for portraying the legendary singer in the biographical movie titled “The United States Vs. Billie Holiday“.

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In the film “Rocketman,” a British actor portrayed one of the most legendary rock ‘n’ roll musicians ever known.

The singer took on the Queen of Soul in 2021’s Respect.

Following Natalie Portman’s departure from the project, another English actress took on the role of the late Supreme Court Justice in ‘On the Basis of Sex’, which was helmed by director Mimi Leder.

The actress produced and starred in I, Tonya, based on the disgraced figure skater’s life.

The actor portrayed a civil rights pioneer alongside Bryan Cranston, who played President Lyndon B. Johnson, in the HBO production titled “All the Way”.

In the FX series produced by Ryan Murphy titled “Feud“, the Academy Award-winning actor donned the role originally played by the deceased film icon, in the story revolving around the production of “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane“.

The Dead Man Walking star played the acting legend in Feud.

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The British actor starred as the late country singer in the 2015 film I Saw the Light.

The Lovesick star played the late rock legend in the 2020 biopic Stardust

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The actress starred as the former First Lady in Southside With You.

Odette shared with TopMob News that her character from “The Astronaut Wives Club” was a trailblazing figure, truly ahead of her era. She was not only exceptionally talented as a pilot but also a pleasure to portray.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share my excitement about the incredible role portrayed by the star of Scandal. In the gripping HBO biopic titled Confirmation, this talented individual breathed life into the character of the aide who bravely stood up against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, accusing him of sexual assault in 1991. What an extraordinary performance!

The Oscar nominee starred in The Founder, a biopic about the founder of the McDonald’s empire.

The Kardashians are set to appear on television in a new role, having previously been featured in Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story: The Trial of O.J. Simpson. Selma Blair portrayed Kris Jenner, who was the spouse of Robert Kardashian, O.J. Simpson’s attorney.

The actress and model played the late legendary singer in a Lifetime biopic.

The Les Misérables heartthrob won the Oscar after portraying Hawking in Theory of Everything.

In the mini-series titled “The Kennedys“, the actor previously known from “Dawson’s Creek” portrayed the iconic figure of the former First Lady, who was also one of America’s most stylish public figures.

The actress who won an Oscar gracefully filled the grand footsteps of the legendary Hollywood figure transformed into a princess, in the movie titled “Grace of Monaco“.

In simpler terms, a Marvel actor portrayed Jamie Lee Curtis’ mother character in the movie ‘Hitchcock’, which centered around the production process of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film ‘Psycho’.

In a previous role, the actress who was once on “Private Practice” played the late Playboy model in the Lifetime movie titled “The Anna Nicole Story.

The That ’70s Show alum played the late Apple co-founder in the indie flick Jobs.

The Aussie actor portrayed the Formula 1 race car driver in Ron Howard‘s biopic Rush.

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2025-04-30 01:48