Ice Cube has reportedly exited the upcoming movie Oh Hell No after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the rapper-actor was set to star alongside Jack Black in the Sony comedy but walked away from a $9 million paycheck after declining a request from producers to get vaccinated.
The film was slated to start shooting this winter in Hawaii with director Kitao Sakurai (Bad Trip). The cast was asked to get vaccinated prior to production.
Amid Cube’s departure, the film is pushing back its start date. Black is still attached to the project and Sony is reportedly looking to find a replacement for Cube.
Ice Cube has promoted mask-wearing throughout the coronavirus pandemic. In August, he donated 2,000 face masks to Bacone College in Oklahoma. In April 2020, he released “Check Yo Self Before You Wreck Yo Self” T-shirts, in which he donned a mask, with proceeds benefitting underfinanced hospitals and nurses in inner cities.
Oh Hell No is the second movie role that Ice Cube has left in recent months. He was also slated to co-star in the boxing movie Flint Strong but is no longer involved for undisclosed reasons.