Ice Cube lost the ‘Oh Hell No’ role after refusing the COVID vaccine
“These motherfuckers didn’t give it to me because I wouldn’t get the shot,” said Ice Cube, who would star in the comedy Oh Hell No, opposite Jack Black.
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Last year, it was reported that Ice Cube was leaving Oh Hell No, a Sony comedy starring Jack Black and directed by Bad Trip filmmaker Kitao Sakurai, due to disagreements over COVID vaccinations. On a Monday episode of the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, the rapper and actor seemingly confirmed those reports while discussing walking out of a $9 million film role because he refused to get a COVID shot.
“I turned down a movie because I didn’t want to take the f***ing hit,” Ice Cube said on the podcast, though he didn’t name the film or those involved. “I turned down $9 million. I didn’t want to get the bump. Fuck that bump. Fuck y’all for trying to make me get it. I don’t know how Hollywood feels about me right now.”
Originally, Ice Cube’s comments seemed to imply that he left the film on purpose. However, later in the podcast he clarified that he was dropped from the role, consistent with October 2021 reports: “These motherfuckers didn’t give it to me because I wasn’t going to get the recording. I didn’t turn it down. They just didn’t want to give it to me. The COVID shot, the jab, I didn’t need it. I didn’t get that shit at all. Nothing. fuck her I didn’t need that shit.”
Ice Cube appeared on the podcast with fellow rappers E-40 and Too Short. During the interview, hosts Gillie Da King and Wallo267 asked Ice Cube if he would consider acting in independent productions outside of Hollywood. “I’m working on it. I’ll hurry,” Ice Cube replied. “I’ve got a lot of things up my sleeve.”
After Ice Cube was pulled from Oh Hell No weeks before it was scheduled to shoot in Hawaii, the project was indefinitely postponed. The film has since been renamed Stepdude, with Eric Appel, director of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, replacing Sakurai and set to rewrite the screenplay. Black is still involved in the production but will no longer be in the film, which will focus on two men of the same age who get together after one starts dating the other’s mother.
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https://www.indiewire.com/2022/11/ice-cube-confirms-lost-role-refused-covid-vaccine-1234785003/ Ice Cube lost the ‘Oh Hell No’ role after refusing the COVID vaccine