The ongoing saga sparked by Katt Williams’ explosive interview on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast continues to ripple through the entertainment industry. Among those drawn into the fray is Ice Cube, who has addressed comments made by Williams regarding the iconic character of Money Mike from “Friday After Next.” Williams claimed to have essentially created the role, writing his own lines and even preventing a rape scene from being included in the film. Now, Ice Cube, the co-writer and producer of “Friday After Next,” is setting the record straight.
Ice Cube, responding to Katt Williams’ Money Mike claims, clarifies the creative process behind “Friday After Next.”
Ice Cube Addresses Katt Williams’ “Money Mike” Assertions
In a video shared across social media platforms, Ice Cube directly responded to Katt Williams’ statements about the Money Mike character. One of the key points Williams made was that he developed the Money Mike persona and dialogue himself. Cube acknowledged Williams’ improvisational talent, stating, “Katt said he wrote his role, which, I mean, the role was written, but he enhanced it… You know, Money Mike had a small role, you know, ‘bout as big as the Santa Claus role, but when we started filming he was giving us such magic that we kept expanding his role and giving him more to do because he was on point.”
This statement from Ice Cube recognizes Katt Williams’ contribution to the role, highlighting how his performance elevated the character of Money Mike beyond its initial conception. While acknowledging Williams’ improvisational skills, Cube clarified that the foundation of the Money Mike character was indeed written into the script.
Rickey Smiley and the Santa Claus Role: Setting the Record Straight
Another point of contention raised by Katt Williams was the casting of Money Mike, suggesting that Rickey Smiley was initially considered for the role. Rickey Smiley himself had previously claimed he was in contention for Money Mike. Ice Cube addressed this directly, stating, “[Rickey] did give Money Mike a shot. But when we saw him and, you know, we kind of saw how he moved and how he was, you know, auditioning, we decided that he would be a better, you know, Santa Claus, which was, to me, the perfect casting.”
Cube’s explanation indicates that Rickey Smiley did audition for Money Mike, but ultimately, the production team felt Smiley was better suited for the role of Santa Claus in the film. This clarifies the casting decisions and timeline, directly addressing the differing accounts.
Debunking the Rape Scene Claim
Katt Williams also claimed to have intervened to remove a rape scene from “Friday After Next.” Ice Cube vehemently denied this, stating, “I would never shoot a rape scene in a movie, especially in a movie 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,” Cube asserted.
He further emphasized his creative control and the overall tone of his films, adding, “That was never a discussion… At that point in everybody’s career, you know, we would listen to a certain extent, but we wasn’t gonna change the movie for any actor… We do what we feel, and if it was a rape scene, it would [have] been in the movie. There was no reason not to shoot it. But that’s not my style. I don’t even like that kind of s**t in movies on camera.” Ice Cube firmly refuted the existence of a planned rape scene, dismissing Williams’ claim as unfounded and inconsistent with his filmmaking style.
In Conclusion: Ice Cube’s Clear Response
Ice Cube’s response provides a direct counterpoint to Katt Williams’ claims regarding the Money Mike character in “Friday After Next.” While acknowledging Katt Williams’ comedic talent and improvisational contributions that enhanced the role of Money Mike, Ice Cube firmly clarified the origins of the character, Rickey Smiley’s casting, and definitively denied the assertion about a removed rape scene. This exchange offers further insight into the creative dynamics behind the popular comedy film and highlights the ongoing dialogue sparked by Katt Williams’ recent interview.
