20 Straight Black Actors Who Won’t Kiss Same-Sex Co-Stars On Screen

Working in Hollywood often requires actors to carefully decide which roles they’ll take, respecting their own limits. Many actors have specific requests in their contracts about on-screen intimacy and won’t bend on those rules. This is especially common among well-known Black actors, some of whom have stated they won’t film romantic scenes with actors of the same sex. Their reasons vary – some are based on religious beliefs or personal preference, while others worry about how these roles might impact their career or how the public perceives them.

Will Smith

Early in his career, the popular actor faced a difficult situation while filming ‘Six Degrees of Separation’. He played a character who was a gay con artist, but he didn’t want to do a kissing scene with his male co-star, Anthony Michael Hall. He asked his mentor, Denzel Washington, for advice, and Washington famously advised him against kissing another man on screen. The director had to film the scene using a camera angle that showed the back of the actor’s head to suggest intimacy without actual contact. Later, the actor admitted he regretted his decision, realizing it was an immature reaction fueled by his worry about what his friends back home in Philadelphia would think.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart has openly discussed his reluctance to play gay characters if the role involves intimate scenes he’s not comfortable with. He famously turned down a part in the movie ‘Tropic Thunder’ because the script initially included content he considered too explicit. Hart has explained that his own self-consciousness would prevent him from fully committing to such a role, as he’d be preoccupied with how audiences might react.

Denzel Washington

Throughout his long and successful career, this acclaimed actor has consistently avoided showing on-screen intimacy. He’s known for advising other actors, like Will Smith, to steer clear of such scenes to maintain their established image. A well-known example is his refusal to kiss Julia Roberts in ‘The Pelican Brief,’ as he prioritized staying true to his loyal fanbase of Black women. His stance on this issue has had a notable impact on how other actors approach similar situations in Hollywood.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson is famous for playing complex and challenging characters, but he had a specific limit while filming the movie ‘Cell’, based on Stephen King’s novel. The character he played was gay, and the filmmakers kept that part of his story. However, people working on the film said Jackson wouldn’t film any scenes that involved physical intimacy with other men. He was comfortable portraying the character’s sexuality, but he made it clear he wasn’t willing to do scenes with physical contact.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy, a well-known comedian, is famous for playing many different characters. However, he’s been hesitant to take on dramatic roles that involve gay intimacy. Early in his career, he told Playboy magazine that he turned down a movie about Little Richard because it included scenes with gay relationships. He specifically said he wouldn’t kiss another man on screen, explaining that even as an actor, he has personal boundaries and won’t do anything for money.

Ice Cube

Ice Cube has carefully crafted a strong, masculine public image throughout his career as both a rapper and an actor, and he’s very protective of it. He’s publicly said he would never take a role that asked him to portray same-sex intimacy, and he’s consistently turned down projects that he felt didn’t fit his personal values or the image he’s built. Even as he’s moved into more family-friendly comedy roles, he remains firm on this boundary.

Chris Tucker

Chris Tucker made a conscious decision to move away from some of his most successful movie roles, including the ‘Friday’ series, because of his strong religious beliefs. He’s openly discussed his refusal to play characters or wear costumes that he believes negatively portray Black men, and he avoids roles involving same-sex relationships due to his Christian faith. Tucker values staying true to his beliefs more than earning money, and has turned down significant financial opportunities to uphold these principles.

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard has said he almost played Marvin Gaye in a movie about the singer’s life, but he decided against it because of the script. Howard explained he wasn’t comfortable portraying a same-sex relationship or kissing another man in a scene, going so far as to say he’d rather injure himself than do it. He realized he couldn’t fully commit to that part of the character, and felt it made him the wrong choice for the role.

50 Cent

50 Cent, a successful figure in the hip-hop world, has publicly disapproved of storylines featuring male intimacy in shows like ‘Empire’. He’s explained that he personally avoids close contact with gay people because he finds their perspectives unsettling. This personal preference extends to his work as an actor, where he declines roles involving gay relationships or intimacy. He consistently projects a very masculine image in shows like ‘Power’ and actively avoids any roles that might challenge that image.

Tyrese Gibson

Tyrese Gibson often talks about presenting a strong, traditionally masculine image and how that influences his work. He’s acknowledged feeling uneasy with some of the storylines in the show ‘Star,’ where his character, a pastor, interacted with LGBTQ+ characters. Gibson stated he worried about negative reactions and wanted to maintain his public image as a heterosexual man. He’s willing to take on roles in a variety of dramas, but has drawn a firm line at portraying physical intimacy with men.

Tank

As a film and TV fan, I remember when R&B singer Tank took a role on ‘Born Again Virgin’ that involved a gay storyline. What I found interesting was how clear he was with the producers beforehand. He basically said he was happy to explore the character’s feelings and journey, but drew a firm line at any actual kissing or sex scenes with another man. He was willing to do the emotional work, but wanted to keep the physical aspect off-limits, which I think is a really important distinction.

Katt Williams

Comedian Katt Williams often claims Hollywood intentionally tries to undermine the strength and masculinity of Black male actors. He’s publicly stated he won’t wear dresses or take roles he feels are meant to be demeaning. Williams sees accepting such roles as a loss of personal values and has called out other comedians for doing so. This stance also extends to a firm refusal to portray same-sex relationships, which he views as part of this pattern.

Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle famously turned down a lucrative deal with Comedy Central because he was uncomfortable with the way Black men were depicted in comedy. He’s criticized the common practice of Black comedians being asked to perform in drag or do other things that feel degrading, and he prioritizes having creative control over his work. Chappelle believes in artistic freedom, but he refuses to compromise his own sense of self-respect or masculinity to please the industry. This conviction is a recurring theme in his stand-up comedy.

Mike Epps

Comedian Mike Epps once appeared on ‘The Sopranos’ and played a character who was gay. He later said he felt misled about the role and didn’t realize the character’s sexuality until he got to the set. According to reports, he told the show’s team he wasn’t comfortable with any physical contact with the other actor. Epps worked with the production crew to film the scene in a way that respected his boundaries and avoided any unwanted physical interaction.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg seemed uneasy about a kiss between two male characters in the movie ‘Lightyear’. He said he was worried about having to explain the scene to his grandkids. Because his public image is based on a traditional, masculine style, he generally avoids topics related to the LGBTQ+ community. It’s likely he wouldn’t accept a role if it involved similar scenes for him to act out.

LL Cool J

Okay, so as someone who’s followed LL Cool J for years, he’s very aware of his image and has always worked hard to maintain that classic, cool, masculine vibe. Apparently, that extended to the set of ‘In the House.’ I’ve heard stories about some friction with RuPaul when she guest-starred. It sounds like LL wasn’t comfortable with RuPaul being there and avoided interacting with her as much as possible. Basically, he seemed really determined to protect that carefully constructed image and didn’t want to do anything that might challenge how people saw him.

Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes ended an interview after being questioned about homophobia in hip-hop. He made it clear that his artistic identity doesn’t support homosexuality. This unwillingness to address the issue shows he consistently avoids LGBTQ+ themes in his music and career. He’s also turned down acting roles that would have involved romantic relationships between people of the same sex, given his preference for playing traditionally masculine characters.

Rick Ross

Rick Ross, while also a rapper who’s tried acting, believes hip-hop hasn’t fully accepted LGBTQ+ topics. He’s noted that male rappers often avoid being linked to gay lifestyles because it’s still considered off-limits. Ross carefully maintains his tough image and steers clear of projects that might challenge his credibility within street culture, which is why he won’t take on roles involving same-sex relationships.

Tracy Morgan

Tracy Morgan has received criticism for jokes he’s made about his son and regarding sexual orientation. While he once played a flamboyantly gay character in the movie ‘The Longest Yard’ for comedic effect, he’s privately expressed discomfort with the topic. He seems unwilling to portray same-sex intimacy seriously in his work, and generally creates characters that emphasize a boisterous and unrestrained version of masculinity.

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey has become very successful by offering relationship advice rooted in traditional values and a conservative view of family. He often jokes about not understanding LGBTQ+ culture and consistently promotes rigid ideas about how men and women should behave in his work. His public image is built around being a strong, traditional authority figure, making it extremely unlikely he would take on a role that challenged those values – like a romantic scene with another man – or went against the persona he’s created.

2025-12-04 01:48