Terrence Howard insists he isn’t homophobic even while revealing he turned down a Marvin Gaye biopic because he “could not” portray the late Grammy winner’s rumored gay identity.
The Oscar nominee, 56, told Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast this week that he was approached by “Empire” co-creator Lee Daniels to play the “Sexual Healing” crooner.
“Well you know what happened with that, I was over at Quincy Jones’ house and I’m not dropping names, I’m just giving credibility,” said Howard. “So I’m asking Quincy, I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay … and was he gay? And Quincy’s like, yes. He went around it with everything. And I’m like, I could not do that.”
“You mean you couldn’t kiss a guy on-screen?” asked the “Real Time” host, 69.
“No, ’cause I don’t fake it,” said “The Best Man” actor. “That would f–k me. I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.”
Maher conceded he too could not kiss a man, which “doesn’t make me homophobic. … We all have our own…” trailing off.
“Do what you love to do but don’t … aim it at me. And I can’t play that character 100%. I can’t surrender myself to a place that I don’t understand. So that’s the end part of that story,” said Howard.
“I can certainly understand it. I’m just not of it,” said Maher. “Homosexuality is in nature.”
Gaye was twice married, to Anna Gordy from 1964 to 1977 and Janis Hunter, from 1977 to 1981. Hunter inspired the 1974 song, “Jan.”
Jones, who died late last year, reportedly told Vulture in 2018 that Marlon Brando would “f–k anything,” and had sexual relations with Gaye. Despite Jones’ assertions, Gaye never publicly confirmed nor denied his sexuality, People reports.
Howard’s remarks come just weeks after telling the “PBD Podcast” that he kept his “man card” after Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly “tried to f–k” him. Next week kicks off 55-year-old Combs’ federal trial for sex trafficking and racketeering.
Originally Published: April 29, 2025 at 11:44 AM EDT
