The ongoing saga sparked by Katt Williams’ explosive interview on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast continues, with Ice Cube being the latest to address remarks made by the comedian. Amongst a barrage of name-drops and controversial statements, Williams’ claims about his role as Money Mike in “Friday After Next” caught considerable attention, and now Ice Cube is setting the record straight.
Williams, during the interview, asserted that he was the true creator of the iconic Money Mike character, claiming he wrote his own lines and essentially built the role from the ground up. He also disputed claims made by Rickey Smiley, who had previously suggested he was considered for the Money Mike part. Ice Cube, the co-writer and star of the “Friday” franchise, addressed these points directly in a video shared across social media platforms on Friday, January 5th.
Ice Cube first clarified the situation regarding Rickey Smiley’s involvement with the Money Mike role. He stated that Smiley did audition for the part, but the production team ultimately felt he was better suited for the role of Santa Claus in “Friday After Next,” a decision Cube considered “perfect casting.” This directly contradicts Smiley’s earlier statements suggesting he was in serious contention for Money Mike.
Turning to Williams’ claims of authorship over Money Mike, Ice Cube acknowledged the comedian’s improvisational talents but clarified the character’s origins. “Katt said he wrote his role, which, I mean, the role was written, but he enhanced it,” Cube explained. He elaborated that Money Mike was initially envisioned as a smaller character, comparable in size to the Santa Claus role. However, Williams’ performance during filming was so captivating and “magic” that the filmmakers decided to expand the role, giving him more screen time and material to work with. Cube emphasized that while Williams delivered the scripted lines, his improvisational additions significantly enriched the character and made it the memorable performance it is known for.
Another significant claim made by Williams was that he intervened to remove a rape scene from the “Friday After Next” script. Ice Cube firmly denied this, stating unequivocally, “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.” He further emphasized that such a scene was never even under consideration, dismissing Williams’ assertion as unfounded. “That was never a discussion,” Cube stated, highlighting that creative decisions on the film were not dictated by actors, especially at that stage in their careers. He reiterated his personal filmmaking style, distancing himself from graphic or “raunchy” content on screen.
Ice Cube’s response provides a direct counterpoint to Katt Williams’ claims, particularly regarding the creation and development of the Money Mike character. While acknowledging Williams’ comedic talent and improvisational contributions that elevated the role, Cube firmly establishes that the character was indeed written and that certain claims, like the removal of a rape scene, are simply untrue. This exchange further fuels the ongoing conversation sparked by Williams’ “Club Shay Shay” interview, adding another layer to the narrative surrounding his comments and the reactions they have elicited from those mentioned.
