Actor Terrence Howard revealed his biggest career mistake when discussing the role he turned down to play Marvin Gaye in a biopic. The Empire alum told Club Random host Bill Maher that he declined the project due to concerns over portraying Gaye’s sexuality on screen.
Howard explained that he was already attached to playing Marvin Gaye in another film and didn’t want to compromise his performance by exploring the singer’s personal life. After meeting Quincy Jones, who confirmed that Gaye was gay, Howard decided he couldn’t play a role that would require him to portray a romantic relationship with another man.
While Maher agreed that Howard made the right decision, the conversation also sparked discussion about the importance of authenticity in acting and the potential impact of playing a character’s private life on screen.
Source: https://ew.com/terrence-howard-turned-down-role-to-avoid-kissing-man-on-screen-11723744