Kevin Hart On Why He Won't Play a Gay Role

By
YouTube

Kevin Hart has revealed the one role that he regrets turning down.

In a recent interview with Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club, the 35-year-old comedian reveals he actually turned down the role of rapper Alpa Chino in 2008's Tropic Thunder, which eventually went to Brandon T. Jackson. The action comedy starring A-listers Robert Downey, Jr., Ben Stiller and Jack Black went on to become both a huge critical and box office hit.

According to Hart, the original draft of the script had the closeted character role being a lot more "flagrant."

PHOTOS: Almost Got the Part -- How Reese Lost Out on Amy Adams' 'The Master' Role

"In my defense -- first of all, before I say this, I'm politically correct. To the gay community, I respect and appreciate you for everything y'all do, and as people, I love you -- the part was way more ... in the beginning, the dude was doing a lot of stuff in the draft that I read. I'm not saying it. It was real flagrant."

"It was a lot of stuff, and I was like, 'I can't do this,'" he further explains.

Though it's worth noting that in the final version of Tropic Thunder, the Alpa Chino character actually turned out to be pretty mild, only revealing he was gay and in a relationship with singer Lance Bass towards the end of the film.

When asked if he would ever play a gay character, Hart admits he's too insecure to take on such a role.

"No -- not because I have any ill will or disrespect," Hart stresses. "It's because ... I don't think I'm really going to dive into that role 100 percent because of insecurities about myself trying to play that part. Does that make sense? Like, what I think people are going to think while I'm trying to do this is going to stop me from playing that part the way that I'm supposed to."

But never say never.

"I'm not at that acting point in my career," he reflects. "Now seven years later? When I've done this part and you say, 'Hey Kevin, I thought you said you'd never do it?' I'm at the point when I want to take a chance. This role made sense. The story made sense. I may do it."

"You don't know what tomorrow holds," he adds. " ... Right now, it's not on the drawing board."

Watch at the 32:47 mark to hear his comments.

Though Hart's recent comments have certainly caused controversy, interestingly enough, he recently explained to The Hollywood Reporter why his brand of comedy tends be so inoffensive.

"I'm not interested in politics," he said. "Once I realized that I had a voice and didn't have to pretend to be a different version of myself, I stopped forcing the situation, stopped being a character. I stopped and went, 'OK, I can just be me.'"

VIDEO: Kevin Hart Reacts to ET's Explosive Interview with His Ex Torrei

ET recently caught up with Kevin at the premiere of his new comedy The Wedding Ringer, when he dished about his wedding plans with his fiancee, model Eniko Parrish.

Watch below: