Terrence Howard Says He’d Never Kiss a Man Onscreen: “I’d Cut My Lips Off”

Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard has made it clear that there are certain boundaries he won’t cross for a film role — including portraying a same-sex relationship on screen.

During a recent appearance on Club Random with Bill Maher, Howard emphatically stated he would never kiss another man for a role, even joking he would “cut [his] lips off” if forced to do so.

The conversation began as Maher and Howard discussed potential roles in music biopics, including Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and the son of Billy Dee Williams.

Howard revealed that he once turned down a role as Smokey Robinson due to a prior verbal agreement to play Marvin Gaye in a separate project with director Lee Daniels — a film that ultimately never materialized.

Howard explained that he walked away from the Marvin Gaye biopic after being told by the late Quincy Jones that Gaye may have been gay — something Howard said would have impacted his willingness to portray the singer on screen.

“I’m asking Quincy, I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay… and Quincy’s like, ‘Yes,’” Howard said during the interview. “They would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that.”

When Maher asked directly whether he could kiss a man in a movie, Howard responded bluntly: “No, because I don’t fake it… That would f**k me, I would cut my lips off.”

Maher, while disagreeing with the extreme response, said he wouldn’t take on such a role either and argued that refusing to do so doesn’t make someone homophobic.

The discussion has reignited debates around the expectations placed on actors when portraying LGBTQ+ characters and whether personal boundaries around intimacy in film should be interpreted through a cultural or professional lens.

The Empire star also opened up about his rocky relationships with studios, financial disputes, and the double-edged success of the hit TV show that revived his mainstream career. Maher and Howard went on to share stories about celebrity parties, canceled projects, and the challenges of navigating Hollywood fame.

Howard’s comments have drawn mixed reactions online, with some praising his honesty while others have criticized his stance as outdated and insensitive — especially in an era where inclusivity and authentic representation are becoming central to film and television storytelling.