Ice Cube is clearing the air on several ‘Friday After Next’ comments Katt Williams made during his viral interview.
As previously reported, Katt appeared opposite of host Shannon Sharpe released on Jan. 3. In the almost three-hour-long chat, Williams threw shots at several comedians and celebrities, including Rickey Smiley.
Katt called out his former ‘Friday After Next’ co-star for saying the Money Mike role was initially supposed to be his. He also alleged that he got a sexual assault scene cut from the film.
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Ice Cube Clarifies Casting Process & Who Contributed To The Script
On Jan. 5, Ice Cube took to social media to clarify Katt Williams’ comments and Rickey Smiley’s response. He began by acknowledging that everyone has “different perspectives,” given that they filmed the movie over 20 years ago.
“I also wanna say, you know, every comedian that I’ve worked it, every comedian I’ve put in a movie; I only put them in a movie because I thought they was funny. I thought they was perfect for the part; I tried to put them in a position to win. That’s what it’s all about.”
After giving several comedians their flowers, he dived into Williams’ comments. Ice Cube acknowledged that Katt kept it 100 “on a few things, most of what he was saying.” Then, he broke down how casting with him works.
“When we bring in a new comedian, we do have them try out for different roles. So, Rickey did give Money Mike a shot, but when we saw him, saw how he moved…we decided that he would be a better Santa Claus, which was, to me, the perfect casting,” Ice said. “When we saw Katt, when I saw him, I just knew that he was perfect for Money Mike.”
But when it comes to whether Katt wrote his role, Ice Cube clarified that it had already been written. Katt, however, “enhanced it.” He said Money Mike initially had a “small role,” and when they started filming, Katt was giving “magic.” Production kept “expanding his role…because he was on point.”
Ice Says There Was Never A Sexual Assault Scene In ‘Friday After Next’
The second point Ice Cube sought to clear up was Katt Willaims’ allegation that the initial script featured the sexual assault of Money Mike.
“It was never, I would never shoot a rape scene in a movie, especially like ‘Friday,’ where you actually see this happening on camera. That ain’t my style. If you check out any of my movies, they not raunchy. We did a movie called Players Club where the subject matter was a little raunchy, but for the most part, even that, we left it to your imagination.”
He added that, at that point in the careers of production staff, they would “listen to an extent” to actors. However, they weren’t “going to change the movie for any actor.”
“We do what we feel. And if there was a rape scene, it would’ve been in the movie. It’s no reason not to shoot it, but that’s not my style. I don’t even like that kind of sh*t in movies, on camera. And so, that was, to me, a little discrepancy there.”
Ultimately, Ice Cube revealed Katt came “prepared every day,” and they kept the cameras rolling because he was dropping “jewels.”
Watch what else Cube said below.
My comments on the @KattWilliams @ShannonSharpe interview. pic.twitter.com/HFsJGxusot
— Ice Cube (@icecube) January 5, 2024
