Ice Cube States Chris Tucker Turned Down $12M to Appear in ‘Next Friday’: ‘It Was For Religious Reasons’
Ice Cube States Chris Tucker Turned Down $12M to Appear in ‘Next Friday’: ‘It Was For Religious Reasons’
We saw a very funny Chris Tucker play the best friend of Ice Cube’s character in the 1995 comedy, “Friday.” As we have pondered over the years as to why Tucker wasn’t in the impending sequels to the successful movie, once again, Ice Cube revealed the reason after Tucker was offered several million dollars that he refused to appear in the first sequel, “Next Friday.”
According to VIBE, Cube wanted Tucker to reprise his role in the “Friday” sequel. After offering the comedian $12 million, Cube stated that due to “religious reasons” he turned it down. His reason? The “Rush Hour” star stated that he didn’t want to curse and smoke weed on camera.
Cube dropped that tidbit when he appeared on the “Full Send” podcast last week.
“Yeah, we wanted him,” the “Amerikkka’s Most Wanted,” rapper said during the interview. “He turned it down. You’ll hear 1,000 different stories but we wanted to pay him $12 million to do that movie and he turned it down. He said it was for religious reasons,” he continued. “He didn’t wanna cuss and he didn’t wanna smoke weed on camera.”
But, Tucker turning down the role, gave Cube and his production team the chance to bring on comedian Mike Epps to play the role of Day-Day. Cube states that that opportunity wouldn’t have presented itself had Tucker accepted the role.
“Yeah, But I’m glad he didn’t do it” Cube reiterated. ‘Cause we wouldn’t have Mike.” The rapper thinks Epps is a better comedian anyway.
“Mike, to me, is funnier, just as a pure comic.”
In that same interview, Cube also mentioned his disdain for artificial intelligence and producers using it to recreate an artist’s voice for recording purposes. He said if anyone broached the subject of using his voice using the technology, he will pursue legal action, according to Complex.
Cube also said if anyone attempts to use an A.I. generated voice of him, he will make sure he sues them, even calling the technology “demonic.”
Ice Cube States Chris Tucker Turned Down $12M to Appear in ‘Next Friday’: ‘It Was For Religious Reasons’
