Terrence Howard Rejects Marvin Gaye Biopic Because He Doesn’t Want to Kiss Man for Role: ‘I’d Cut My Lips Off’

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Terrence Howard explained his decision to pass on the chance to play Marvin Gaye in a biopic, confessing that he refused to perform a romantic scene with another male actor as he cannot convincingly feign such an action. (56 years old)

In a straightforward conversation on Club Random’s podcast with Bill Maher, Howard openly disclosed that he had been given an opportunity to depict Smokey Robinson in his biopic. However, he declined the offer as he was simultaneously engaged in discussions with Lee Daniels about embodying Marvin Gaye instead.

Yet, upon learning that the biopic’s director intended to delve into questions about the late singer’s sexuality, including potential scenes involving a male kiss, he promptly turned down the opportunity to participate in the project.

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

As a lifestyle expert, let me express this in a more palatable manner: When recently asked why I couldn’t convincingly kiss another man for a film role, I explained that it goes against my genuine feelings. To be honest, it feels unsettling and unnatural to me. It would feel like a violation of my personal boundaries, so much so that I would find it difficult to do it without causing harm to myself. If the situation were to arise where I had to kiss another man, I believe I would struggle to carry it out convincingly.

Apart from stating that he isn’t prejudiced against homosexuality, he made it clear that he wouldn’t feel comfortable portraying a character he doesn’t fully comprehend.

Though Gaye never explicitly discussed his sexual orientation during his life, whispers persistently circulated about him being involved romantically with men. Known for his two Grammy awards, he spent a decade married to Anna Gordy and five years with Janis Hunter.

In 2018, Quincy Jones mentioned in an interview with Vulture that Marlon Brando had dated Marvin Gaye. Quoting Jones, “Brando would join us for cha-cha dancing. He was quite the dancer. He was incredibly charming, the kind of person you’d never forget.” Jones further added, “He had a fondness for everything. Everything! He could even be attracted to a mailbox. James Baldwin, Richard Pryor, and Marvin Gaye were among those he was drawn to.

In terms of Howard’s cinematic career, he first appeared on the big screen in a supporting role for the film “Who’s the Man?” back in 1993. Later, he was recognized with an Academy Award nomination in the Best Actor category for his performance in “Hustle & Flow” (2005). Moreover, you might recognize him as Rhodey in the movie “Iron Man,” which was released in 2008.

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2025-04-29 17:07