Washington DC [US] : Actor Terrence Howard recently opened up about a major turning point in his career, revealing he backed out of a Marvin Gaye biopic after learning details about the legendary R&B singer’s sexuality. In a conversation on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, as reported by Variety, Howard described the decision as the “biggest mistake” of his professional life.
Initially, Howard had turned down an opportunity to star in a Smokey Robinson biopic, opting instead for a project focused on Marvin Gaye, which was being developed by filmmaker Lee Daniels. However, during a visit to music legend Quincy Jones’ house, Howard sought clarification on persistent rumors about Gaye’s sexuality.
“I was over at Quincy Jones’ house and I’m asking Quincy, ‘I’m hearing rumours that Marvin was gay,’ and I’m like, ‘Was he gay?'” Howard recalled. “And Quincy’s like, ‘Yes.'”
Following that revelation, Howard decided he could not move forward with portraying the singer. “They would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that,” Howard explained, referencing the potential depiction of Gaye’s sexuality onscreen.
When Maher asked whether he would ever be willing to kiss a man on screen for a role, Howard responded bluntly, “No. Because I don’t fake it. That would f*** me. I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”
While Maher expressed some understanding of Howard’s personal limits, he clarified that he himself wouldn’t go as far in rejecting a role based on the sexuality of the character.
Howard emphasized that his decision was less about prejudice and more about personal authenticity. “I cannot play a character that I don’t understand,” he said, explaining his method-acting approach.
Terrence Howard’s comments have sparked significant debate about the responsibilities and limits of actors when taking on roles that differ from their own experiences, especially in portraying historical figures.