For some celebrities making a stand in support of what they strongly believe in, it's not always about the money.
Actor and rapper Ice Cube reportedly dropped out of a $9 million movie deal and a winter in Hawaii because he refused to get a COVID vaccine as mandated by the production's cast and crew.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Friday star departed from Sony's upcoming comedy film Oh Hell No—produced by Matt Tolmach and the film's co-star Jack Black—after refusing a request from producers to get vaccinated.
Ice Cube will no longer star in 'OH HELL NO' for Sony after declining a request from producers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
He was set to be paid $9M.
(Source: https://t.co/MmDIylI3da) pic.twitter.com/nZmHUwBprO
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 29, 2021
Production on the film was to start this winter in Hawaii with director Kitao Sakurai—the filmmaker who recently found success with Netflix's Bad Trip—after the rapper and Black decided to team up back in June.
But when Black injured himself filming a stunt for Conan that same month, production on Oh Hell No came to a halt.
Sources told the media outlet producers are looking for Ice Cube's replacement after his refusal to cooperate with the vaccine mandate.
Twitter users did not hold back when speaking out against the rapper.
My mans threw away a 9m bag because of a scary little needle pic.twitter.com/dPNmphL2BD
— Sandwich Dog (@CFC_Marshall_) October 29, 2021
damn shame, would've been so cool to see jack black and ice cube together onscreen. too bad the latter's an anti vaxxer pic.twitter.com/gMrLRG0uDP
— kuya sakura (@KuyaSakura_) October 29, 2021
People really be sacrificing everything just so they don't have to get a damn needle. 🤣
— Brandon Nezamoodeen (@BNezamoodeen) October 29, 2021
The vaccine is free. And he gave up $9 million. Ffs
— Black Lives Matter KC (@BLM_KC) October 29, 2021
Ice Cube had been a strong advocate for wearing masks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August, Bacone College in Oklahoma thanked the actor for donating 2,000 face masks, saying his philanthropy helped students, faculty, and staff "protect themselves and one another during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."
The star also launched a "Check Yo Self Before You Wreck Yo Self" brand of T-shirts to sell in April 2020, with proceeds benefitting front-of-line healthcare workers.
Oh Hell No is the second film Ice Cube dropped out of. He would have co-starred in the boxing movie, Flint Strong, but is no longer involved.
The Hollywood Reporter said the circumstances leading to his departure from the film were unclear.
Imagine being stupid enough pass over getting 9 million due to not wanting to get vaccinated.
— Dakota @ Play Metroid Dread You Cowards (@animegamingnerd) October 29, 2021
Ice Cube said he would melt before getting the vax.., on a serious note, I'm frankly tired of individualists. As a Country we're only as strong as our weakest link, and we have a whole lot of weak links. Why waste $9m on a weak link.
— Mike (@millenium8739) October 30, 2021
Vaccination has become a problematic issue among cast and crew on a number of Hollywood productions ever since a tentative, short-term agreement between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and industry guilds—including SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, the DGA, and the Teamsters—was unveiled in July.
The agreement stated producers would have the option to "implement mandatory vaccination policies for casts and crew in Zone A on a production-by-production basis."
Sets are divided into different "zones" corresponding to the proximity of actors to different levels of protection under current safety protocols.
Zone A is an area on set where cast and crew typically work in close proximity without personal protection equipment.
@SonyPictures I am available and fully vaxxed!
I promise you I can do whatever Ice Cube can.
— KorB (@Koree42877560) October 29, 2021
Ice Cube and Sony did not respond after the Huffington Post for confirmation and comment.