Overview

• Terrence Howard revealed on Bill Maher’s podcast that he turned down a Marvin Gaye biopic due to discomfort with portraying a gay relationship on screen.
• Howard said he learned of Marvin Gaye’s rumored homosexuality from Quincy Jones, which led him to withdraw from the Lee Daniels-led project.
• The actor emphasized that his decision was based on personal authenticity and boundaries, stating he could not commit to a role he did not fully understand.
• Howard’s comments, including his statement that he would ‘cut his lips off’ before kissing a man, have reignited public discourse on homophobia and representation in Hollywood.
• No biopics of Marvin Gaye or Smokey Robinson, both of which Howard was previously linked to, have progressed, leaving their stories untold on screen.