The White Chicks star didn’t hold back when Haddish confronted him
Marlon Wayans did not hold back in a conversation with Tiffany Haddish as he described her as ‘immature and unprofessional’.
When it comes to chat shows, no matter how many rules and regulations are in place, there’s always the odd unexpected moment that slips through.
Sometimes it’s an accidental swear word, sometimes it’s a bit of unexpected conflict, and with Haddish and Wayans, it was a surprising amount of brutal honesty.
It all went down when Haddish was standing in for Ellen DeGeneres on an episode of her chat show in 2020, when she welcomed Wayans on as a guest.
The pair spoke about Wayans’ career as an actor and producer on a number of successful movies, including White Chicks and Scary Movie, and Haddish decided to use the opportunity to confront Wayans about why he’d never cast her in one of his projects.
“I know we friends and I know you love me. I love you,” Haddish began.
Haddish wanted an answer once and for all. (ABC/The Ellen DeGeneres Show)
“You have helped me in so many different aspects in life, gave me some great advice. But this what I want to know. I have auditioned for so many of your movies, your family. Why do I never get cast?”
Haddish pointed out that one of Wayans’ projects even called for a ‘Tiffany Haddish type’ – but somehow she still didn’t fit the bill.
Wayans responded to assure her: “Me and my family always say you’re funny.”
However, he continued: “As producers, you hire and cast people. You were always funny, but you were always on 10. And sometimes you just be inappropriate.”
Wayans went with an ‘honesty is the best policy’ approach. (ABC/The Ellen DeGeneres Show)
Offering a more specific example, the actor continued: “It’s like a love scene, and you want to sit on the actor’s lap and fart. And it’s like, ‘No, Tiffany, it’s not for this scene’. So it was maturation that [had to] hit you.
“It’s like, for me even, right now I feel like I’m ready. I’ve been preparing 30 years for what’s happening to me now.
“It all happens to you at a certain time when maturity and that stardom hits you. Never nothin’ personal.”
Wayans then rounded off his comments by returning to the insistence that his family ‘loves’ Haddish.
“Always thought you was funny. Me and my family, we proud of you,” he said.
Haddish could have argued back, but it seems she decided to take the high road as she accepted Wayans’ explanation with a grin.
She then pointed out she didn’t need Wayans anyway, as she’d launched her own production company and was creating her ‘own jobs’.
“I’m so proud of you,” Wayans responded, thankfully moving on from the cringe-inducing moment.