American actor Terrence Howard has disclosed why he declined a leading role in a Marvin Gaye biopic, citing discomfort with a scene that would require him to kiss another man.
During an appearance on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Howard shared that he felt unable to commit fully to the role due to its demands, particularly a same-sex kiss.
“I can’t play that character 100 percent. I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand,” the actor explained.
The biopic, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels, had attracted early buzz in Hollywood. According to Howard, music legend Quincy Jones was the one who confirmed to him that Marvin Gaye was gay, something Howard hadn’t been certain of.
“I was over at Quincy Jones’ house and I’m asking Quincy, ‘I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay’ and I’m like, ‘Was he gay?’” Howard recounted.
“And Quincy’s like, ‘Yes.’”
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Following that revelation, Howard said he felt compelled to step away from the role.
“They would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that,” he said, referring to kissing another man on screen.
“That would f—k me. I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”
Despite his blunt remarks, Howard stressed that his decision had nothing to do with homophobia. He framed it instead as a matter of personal boundaries and artistic authenticity, saying his acting process requires complete emotional understanding of a character—something he couldn’t achieve in this instance.
Howard’s remarks have since stirred broader conversations around the expectations placed on actors, particularly when portraying real-life individuals with complex identities.
