Actor Terrence Howard has opened up about his decision to decline the role of Marvin Gaye in an upcoming biopic, explaining that he was uncomfortable portraying aspects of Gaye’s rumored sexuality. Speaking candidly on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Howard revealed that he turned down the opportunity because the filmmakers wanted to explore Gaye’s alleged same-sex relationships, which Howard said he could not authentically portray.
Howard recounted asking music legend Quincy Jones about rumors that Marvin Gaye was gay, to which Jones confirmed. This revelation became a dealbreaker for Howard, who stated, “They would have wanted to explore that aspect, and I wouldn’t have been able to.” When Maher asked if Howard could kiss a man on screen, he replied bluntly, “No. Because I don’t fake it. That would mess me up; I would cut my lips off.”
Clarifying that his refusal was not rooted in homophobia, Howard said, “Not wanting to kiss a man doesn’t make me homophobic.” He emphasized his commitment to fully embodying a character and explained, “I can’t fully embody that character. I cannot give myself to a place that I do not comprehend.”
Howard also reflected on previously turning down the role of Smo Robinson, a decision he called “the biggest mistake” of his career. He chose to pursue the Marvin Gaye project instead, which he found “much more captivating,” but ultimately passed on both roles.
Marvin Gaye, who was tragically killed by his father in 1984, never publicly identified as gay and was married twice. However, speculation about his sexuality has persisted, with some suggesting he altered the spelling of his name partly to counter rumors.
As of now, representatives for Howard and director Lee Daniels have not commented on the actor’s revelations.
