American actor and hip-hop singer Ice Cube (pictured above) has refused a request from producers to get vaccinated, denying him the $9 million earnings he would have accumulated for starring in Sony Pictures’ upcoming film Oh Hell No. The Mail has the story.
The film – which is being produced by Matt Tolmach – was looking to shoot this winter in Hawaii with director Kitao Sakurai who is best known for his work on Netflix comedy Bad Trip.
Hawaii recently became the first state in the U.S. to administer Covid vaccines to 90% of its residents aged 12 and older and producers had requested that all cast be vaccinated to work on the project.
The Hollywood Reporter has been told that Sony is in the process of finding a replacement for Cube.
Production on the film has also been pushed back as Black had injured himself back in June while filming a bit for the last episode of Conan but still work on the project.
Throughout the Covid pandemic, Cube has promoted mask wearing and even donated 2,000 protective face masks to Bacone College in Oklahoma back in August.
In April 2020, he even unveiled a ‘Check Yo Self Before You Wreck Yo Self’ range of clothing which featured the rapper in a mask with proceeds benefiting frontline healthcare workers.
Vaccinations on set among cast and crew has become an issue on multiple film and television projects in Hollywood.
Back in June, a statement from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) as well as the industry’s top guilds had agreed to ease protocols for fully vaccinated cast and crew.
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