Terrence Howard's Shock Admission: Why He Said No to Marvin Gaye Biopic
Terrence Howard has a reputation for his intense performances in hits like Empire and Hustle & Flow. But a story he shared on Bill Maher’s podcast reveals a side of casting Hollywood doesn’t usually talk about. Howard told Maher he walked away from playing soul legend Marvin Gaye after hearing industry rumors about Gaye’s sexuality.
On Club Random, Howard explained that director Lee Daniels, known for pushing boundaries, wanted him for a Marvin Gaye biopic. Howard seemed interested at first. But then, Quincy Jones allegedly told him Gaye was gay—something never officially confirmed, but whispered in some music circles. That instantly changed Howard’s mind. He said on the podcast, "I wouldn’t have been able to do that," adding, "If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off." Howard made it clear this wasn’t something he could personally handle as an actor, saying he couldn’t "surrender" himself to that level for a role.
The fallout was quick. Howard’s blunt words struck a nerve online. Many social media users said he sounded openly homophobic. They also pointed out Howard’s messy personal history, including old domestic violence allegations that have followed him for years. In 2015, he even admitted in a Rolling Stone interview to assaulting his ex-wife. Not long after, his second wife, Michelle Ghent, accused him of more violence. So, to some critics, his podcast confessions felt like just another example of Howard refusing to examine tough personal questions.
Inside Hollywood’s Casting Secrets—and the New Controversy
Diving deeper, Howard shared another twist. Smokey Robinson, another Motown legend, once asked Howard to play him in a different biopic. Howard turned that down, too—but only, he says, because he wanted to stay loyal to Daniels’ project about Gaye. He now calls that decision "the biggest mistake" of his career, hinting that beefs and commitments behind the scenes can change everything in Hollywood. It’s a rare peek into what can go down before a movie ever gets made.
Back on the podcast, Maher tried to back Howard up. The host said he understood not wanting to perform certain scenes and argued, "It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man." But that didn’t settle things. LGBTQ groups, movie buffs, and fans of Marvin Gaye debated whether actors can pick and choose roles based on their own comfort—or if those choices hurt diversity and honest storytelling. The larger discussion is still simmering: Should stars be willing to play any role, no matter the romantic scenes or sexuality involved, if it serves the story?
Howard may have claimed years ago he was done with acting—he announced his "retirement" in 2019—but his credits keep piling up. Apparently, controversy isn’t slowing him down. The Marvin Gaye story is still waiting for its Hollywood ending, and Howard stays firmly in the headlines for all the complicated reasons.
Apr, 30 2025