10 Straight Actors Who Refuse To Play Gay Roles (And 10 Who Don’t Mind)

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11. Won’t Do It: Will Smith

Jada’s husband also finds his way on this list, but he falls on the other side of the spectrum. Will Smith‘s Fresh Prince Of Bel Air was a major hit for years, but it was his role in Six Degrees that really made him a Hollywood star. In the film, Will Smith played the role of a gay con man but it’s well-known that he rejected a kissing scene, which made some headlines. Smith defended his decision by saying that it wasn’t something his fans would have wanted to see from him.

Rumors have also suggested that Denzel Washington was involved in the decision, as he got in Will Smith’s head and urged him to not go for a gay scene. After all these years, Will is unlikely to take on another gay role considering that he would be criticized much more for refusing to kiss another man.

10. Doesn’t Mind: Sean Penn

Sean Penn has always shown his support for gay rights and never shied away to speak his mind about same-sex marriage, but his role in one of the most critically acclaimed movies from the past 10 years has made him an even more important figure.

Based on Harvey Milk, Sean Penn’s portrayal of the gay icon in the 2008 film Milk earned him plenty of praise from fans and the media. The movie was also received with positive reviews from the LGBT community and has become one of the most important films in recent times.

Penn’s impressive performance earned him many awards and it’s only right since he brilliantly took on a challenging role that not many other actors would have been able to successfully pull off. It’s safe to say that Penn wouldn’t mind portraying another gay role, but it’s probably a tougher task to find a follow-up that would be as powerful as Milk.

9. Won’t Do It: Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart has been on a roll in the past few years, starring in many hit films. Although none of his movies are critically acclaimed by any means, he does draw fans to the theatre and has a large following. Following the latest scandal where he was exposed for cheating on his spouse, his popularity may have taken a hit, but that’s not the first time he was involved in controversy.

Hart is one of the few actors who flat out announced their refusal to portray a gay character and his reasoning is not very convincing. After rejecting to be apart of Tropic Thunder due to the role being of a gay man, Hart hasn’t changed his stance after all those years.

During an interview with The Breakfast Club, he claimed that he wouldn’t play a gay role since he can’t see himself being fully committed due to his own personal insecurities. It sounds like a weak excuse, if you ask me.

8. Doesn’t Mind: Jennifer Lopez

Despite being straight, Jennifer Lopez has shown that she isn’t afraid of being in a same-sex relationship on screen. Although she had several intimate on-screen moments with women, her most famous lesbian role came in the 2003 film Gigli. It’s probably the one film that she would like to forget as it became a massive box office flop, grossing only $7.3 million on an enormous $75.6 million budget. With a rating of 6 % on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics weren’t kind to the movie either, it’s one of the biggest flops in Hollywood.

J-Lo portraying a lesbian was definitely not the reason behind the failure of the film, it’s probably the only thing worth checking out for as the plot makes absolutely no sense. She would probably want to make up for it in a new film if given the chance. Lopez has always been outspoken in supporting the LGBTQ community and even has a gay aunt.

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