Last October, it was reported that rapper and actor Ice Cube turned down a movie—along with a $9 million paycheck—because he refused to get the COVID vaccine.
Ice Cube was set to star in the film Oh Hell No with Jack Black, but refused to get vaccinated—a requirement for everyone on the film set in Hawaii.
Recently, he told Variety:
"I turned down a movie because I didn't want to get the motherf*cking jab."
"I turned down $9 million. I didn't want the jab."
"F*ck that jab. F*ck ya'll for trying to make me get it."
"I don't know how Hollywood feels about me right now."
Ice Cube later clarified he turned down the vaccine, not the film.
"Those motherf*ckers didn't give it to me because I wouldn't get the shot."
"I didn't turn it down. They just wouldn't give it to me."
"The COVID shot, the jab...I didn't need it."
"I didn't catch that sh*t at all. Nothing."
"F*ck them. I didn't need that sh*t."
You can see the segment below.
WARNING: NSFW language
\u201cIce Cube turned down 9 million dollars cuz he didn\u2019t wanna get the Covid shot\u201d— LATO 5x (@LATO 5x) 1669018937
Twitter was split on his stance.
Many applauded his refusal to get the COVID vaccine.
Ice Cube is a real man. Big ups.
— Brian (@Brian61208086) November 22, 2022
My respect for Ice Cube 📈
— ~🪬~ (@yusofhovler) November 22, 2022
Good for him. Don't let anyone force you to get a medical procedure because, at the end of the day, you have to deal with how your body reacts to it!
— SimJennKim (@SimJKim) November 22, 2022
@icecube pic.twitter.com/gABuLbHN7W
— MC (@MarcusC7796) November 22, 2022
Real eyes realize real lies. Much respect for @icecube on this. True Blood Cube.
— Joetarded ( 🇺🇦 aid - FTX - DemonKlowns) Parody (@CucksoyC) November 22, 2022
Respect.
We all paid a heavy price for not bending the knee, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
— UncleLazarus (@UncleLazarus) November 22, 2022
Good for you...never have...never will...I have been just fine...
— AnnieBgood3 (@Bgood3Annie) November 22, 2022
Others, however, shared their disappointment.
Damn. Used to like Ice Cube too.🤦♂️
— Jason Lee (@jlh154) November 22, 2022
Not like Ice Cube needs the money but lord, I ain’t tryna lose Cube to long COVID
— Sly (@CorruptMugshots) November 23, 2022
Sad.
— Science works. (@HerrWillhelm) November 23, 2022
Not the flex he thinks it is. A lot more to it then just that.
— L.B. Baby! (@LB_Baby11) November 23, 2022
Sorry you couldn’t put an entire production at risk
— Silver Shamrock Novelties (official) (@allanhowls) November 23, 2022
Of course, to many, it was more about the paycheck.
Times are tough. I'll get it for $9!
— Anthony (@Mcrusty7) November 23, 2022
When you’re already mega rich, you can afford to do that. Just don’t ask the 9 to 5 folks working hard to take care of their families to do the same.
— Legends of Haitian Music (@LegendsofHaiti) November 23, 2022
What a privilege to be able to walk away from 9 mil
— tinapunk (@tinapunk) November 23, 2022
i’m so sorry you didn’t get a shot to make 9 million for a movie roll. here let me give you some of my tears so you feel bettttaaaa
— 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕂𝕚𝕕 𝔽𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕜𝕚𝕖 (@518_Nayte) November 23, 2022
Variety also asked Ice Cube if the ordeal made him consider opening his own studio, to which he replied:
"I'm working on it. I'm hustling..."
"Got a lot of things up my sleeve."
...but a vaccine ain't one.
Ash Stanton/Facebook
Laura Sprinkle/Facebook
Akira Karasu/Facebook
Cevanna Gilbert/Facebook
Troy Adam/Facebook
@GovPressOffice/X
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social