Laurence Fishburne Reveals Why He Initially Turned Down 'What's Love Got to Do With It' 

When I hear him talk he sounds like he should be sitting on a throne. He just sounds so distinguished and elegant.

Just to hear him acknowledge that he was physically abusive with his first wife without provocation or being forced makes me have so much respect for him🙏🏾👏🏾

Much respect for Laurence being accountable for his past and seeking help. Most wouldn't tell that part, but I'm glad he let us in.

Man... it is these sorts of interviews that allow you to see the layers of a wise person. The poise, assurance, thoughtfulness, and authenticity in his answers is eye opening. Love it.

Laurence Fishburne is a class act. Great call turning down PULP FICTION and accepting WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT.

Very Brave of this King to admit his PAST flaws. I love him even more now.

When I heard he would play Ike I questioned why he was playing that role. I said he doesn't even look like Ike. He made me realize a true talent embodies the character. Now I can't see anyone else in that role. He deserved an Oscar. Good interview.

I love that he was protective and supportive of Angela and that he was able to seek and get help with his own anger and abuse issues ❤️

He killed it as Ike. He played the cerebral, manipulative role so well and had great chemistry with Angela Bassett who also did an excellent job.

Laurence Fishburne has always given me an intellectual vibe. He is so well spoken and articulates his answers to questions with much thought and grace. He played Ike Turner and Angela Bassett portrayed Tina top tier! That movie should have awarded them both Oscars!

I applaud him for taking great care of how they presented those scenes on screen, years later after his own experiences with his first marriage. He's 100% correct. The film did not need overt violence to tell the story. It presented itself, because of that care, well enough. Kudos to him.

I maintain that him as Ike is one of the best portrayals in any biopic.

Laurence Fishburne seems well-calibrated. He had to be and it is good to learn he sought help when he needed it. He went from child actor to adult and his longevity is remarkable. This was eye-opening for me. I knew he had depth, but he's also serene.

Seen this video at 6am. This movie made me scared of Lawrence for very long time because my mom was a domestic violence victim and my dad acted just like Ike. This interview has shed so much perspective 👏🏾 on how and why he chose the role (he played it to a T). This was an excellent interview

Thank you Jamele. You are a great interviewer and this interview was an unexpected treat. Laurence Fishburne is just the best .His depth as an actor in my opinion is unmatched …Also Laurence allowing us to know something so personal as him having participated in domestic violence and how he evolved from that time is a blessing to all who received it. Thanks again Jamele. PLEASE GIVE US MORE GREAT INTERVIEWS LIKE THIS.

What he said about turning down the rule for pulp fiction was a beautiful thing. To be able to have that type of impact on someone’s life while still being successful in yours must be a good feeling. Kudos to Lawrence for saying that because that answer was a well respected. Beautiful way of answering the question. Thanks.

It takes a strong and sensitive individual to be able to admit to his faults in his first marriage with such honesty. Being able to be that honest with yourself is probably what helped him form into the amazing gentleman he is today.

That got me emotional at the end 😮‍💨. That was legendary gold. Shout out to Laurence Fishburne for being so assertive in protecting the script and above all, his acting partner 🥲. I was 8 years old when that movie came out and lemme tell you, I didn’t know how impactful those abuse scenes were on my little eyes and brain. There’s a reason for parental advisories. It was hard to watch with even the obstructions he spoke of! To know that there was a possibility for it to be shot even more explicitly is not something I can fathom. Man. Him and Angela Basset some goats 🙏🏾 The best part of my childhood in film.

Such a distinguished gentlemen. What great transparency. He's so much more than a great actor.......he's a man with integrity.

I appreciate the honesty, ownership and consideration.

I've watched the movie many times. But, I never owned the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It". The acting from Angela and Laurence was powerful. I read Tina's book. Ike although a genius. He was mentally ill. That's what it is. He was an abuser. But, I like that Laurence was transparent about his own emotional landscape. Because, he played the character brilliant. I'm glad he cared enough to tell the crew members and Director. What he didn't want. In respect to IKE and Tina. Regardless of how we may feel. The man help to cultivate her as a talent. We know of her because of the man. So I give him that, plus his indelible contribution to the creative arts. Rocket 88 is considered the first Rock and Roll single. Angela captured the strength of the Queen Tina. Great film. Great Life. Happy Birthday Tina, she recently turned 83yrs young.

I really appreciate this interview. It revealed alot. Excellent!!!

Love the accountability ❤️🙏🏾

Laurence was amazing in Deep Cover. That is a movie that need to be talked about.

I can totally understand why he turned down Pulp Fiction. There's a portion in that film that made me utterly cringe. And I believe that's one of the reasons why he turned it down. However, I don't see anybody else playing Ike in What's Love Got to Do With It. Nobody else would have worked in my opinion. Overall he's a legend and deserves his flowers!

That is one of the best movies ever! I'm glad Laurence turned it up after turning it down 5 times! Casting was PERFECT! Has Laurence directed any movies? I suppose his past experiences helped him play the Ike character SO WELL! (nice interview)

Ms. Hill’s follow up questions were the best!👌🏾

I ran into him at my workplace - United Nations Children's Fund in New York City many years ago. I greeted and welcomed him to the Organization as he waited for the elevator in the lobby. He was very serious - but nice. A real gentleman. Excellent interview!!!

Fishburne, Lindo, Washington, L Jackson… their interviews are better than some people’s films💯💯💯

Bravo to the interviewer for being so incredibly professional and respectful during this interview. I have mad love for this Legendary Actor for his great body of work.

You can tell that he felt as if he were in a protected space to be able to dive into these conversations without judgment. Jemele Hill has always had an amazing skill and I’m so glad that she isn’t limited by certain networks anymore.

Jemele, you are a fantastic interviewer. Also, I can really respect how Lawrence thinks through things and has a reason for his decisions. Much respect to him for being accountable for his mistakes for having worked to be better.

Violence doesn’t have to be shown to be understood. The whole movie turned out really emotional anyway, it is a fantastic movie. I am glad I saw Tina Turner at a live concert, she is my mom’s favourite singer, I love her as well ❤

In my opinion, this interview does a great job of differentiating Laurence Fishburne as an inspirational humanitarian, the epitome of wisdom, self-awareness, growth and development, and a man of substance and versatility.

I saw "What's Love Got to Do With It..." as a little girl and I should have been protected from that. The scene Laurence described is the scene that stays with me (I literally have to envision doing bodily harm to "Ike" to relieve the feelings that come up for me)

Have always LOVED Lawrence Fishburne. I've seen much of his diverse work! LOVE him!!🥰

Underrated actor; King of New York, Boyz in the Hood, The Matrix some of the my favorite movies

Laurence Fishburne is an icon… one of my many favorite rolls was Othello. He crushed that character!! 🔥♥️🥰

Met Laurence when I lived in LA. In the early 80's. I dated a friend of his (Paul,) who was also friends with Emilio Estevez. Went to a party with Paul and Laurence after stopping in Malibu to say hello to Emilio. A super guy! Both were actually.

Laurence is amazing. Very talented actor.

Somebody reminded me he was in peewee Herman as the cowboy

I heard his agent wanted him to take lead roles and pulp fiction wasn't full on lead so he turned it down for a movie called Bad Company which turned out not being good

Listen when you self reflect, get help through the process and actually grow/change it’s so powerful. I wish this interview were longer. You asked him some great questions! Mr. Fishburne’s ability to consider the emotional and mental impact on not just himself, but also his co-stars’ is a level of emotional intelligence that most never reach!

I admire Mr. Fishburn for his admission on being a considerate human being towards certain intense scenes with Ms. Basset during filming. Great interview by Ms. J. Hill.👍🌹

Great interview, I absolutely adore his transparency and grace. ❤

Amazing honesty on Mr. Fishburne's part. God bless him for this honesty about his brutal past and overcoming it. Seems like a very mature man. I love his responses about refusing role on Pulp Fiction and accepting What's Love Got to do with It. God bless him.

I love all of Laurence Fishburn's movies . I think his portrayal of Ike Turner in What's love got to do with it . Was phenomenal ‼️ But I can't help wondering , what that movie would've been like . If that role had been played by the actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd ❓️💡🤔 . He bears a slight resembles to Ike Turner . And he played those street wise gritty personality characters . 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

What's love got to do with it WOULD NOT be the same without Laurence playing Ike... NOBODY else could be Ike lol

Great revealing interview with dignity

Wow great interview! This is honesty folks regardless if you hate him or love him. None of us are perfect. We’ve all done wrong it hurt someone in our lives we have to be careful judging young plp and plp in general so quickly!

Such an Act of Class for Mr Fishburne.. Big ups and respect for you to come forth with your shortcomings.. thats a big way we grow and it shows.. Even though he played Ike very well, that stigma of that character for Fishburne didn’t stick with me because he’s done so many other profound roles ⚡️

Great man right there. Shoutout to Laurence seeking the help he needed at a young age. #Legend

The matrix so much deeper then ppl think its crazy. Its layers underneath layers of truth. Subliminals all in the movie. Just a masterpiece

He deserved an Oscar for Ike

That is the grown up way to look at it. What is for you is for you, God won’t give you somebody else’s blessing. This man is so smart and I love him setting boundaries for their well being. Very brave to admit that he was abusive to his 1st wife in this judgmental cancel culture world we live in. Him, Denzel and Samuel have always been my top 3 in their era and age range……

This was an outstanding interview. I hope Jemele is getting what she is worth. I need more of these and just subscribed.

REspect to Bro. Fishburne for his evolution and wisdom-one of my ALL-TIME favorite actors. Also thanks to Jemele Hill. Also looking forward to hearing Laurence voicing Alpha Trion in TRANSFORMERS: ONE. Is there a link to the whole interview?

He understood the role he had been there from past experiences! He played that part to the Tee! She asked excellent questions! Respect Accountability!

I’m so glad he didn’t turn this down. No one else could’ve played Ike!!!

Great interview! I love these. Hill never misses....and she gorgeous. Educated, and naturally beautiful.

I appreciate his honesty in addressing his own issues publicly a lot of times we don’t acknowledge post therapy domestic violence diagnosis as black men.

Respect level just went up for this man

Such a great actor and also a very cool person! Nothing but respect

Jemele great interview and he is one of favorite all time actors thank you Mr. Fishburne for your great work all these years and this excellent interview.

The Matrix movies would've been better had they stuck with Morpheus's status and mystery. They watered down his importance and slowly shoved Him out. Morpheus/Fishburne single handedly elevated the Matrix. His speech etiquette and overall aura was futuristic and brought a energy that was believable for the scope of the movie. Everyone in those movies tried to copy Fishburne's Morpheus character. None could do it like Fish though. Lastly Fishburne's movie called "standoff" was incredible and didn't get the recognition it deserved. I have Fishburne over Denzel on my all time list. Fishburne has way more range.

Such a great guy!!! I could sit and listen to him talk about stuff all day!!!!

LF is a brilliant actor. Saw him on Broadway, one man show about Thurgood Marshall. Awesome performance. God bless you LF.

Mr. Fishburne you really put personality on Ike Turner's character. My favorite line was when Ike told one of the Ikette's "...you going to be frying fish..." 😂

MY DUDE THE MAAAANNN RIGHT HERE SALUTE MORPHEUS FOREVER MUCH LOVE!!![999]

I grew up on this dude's movies...,dude is a straight OG

For people saying Mr. Fishburne is wise, that's nothing new and an understatement. Look at his catalog, Furious (Boyz in the hood), Morpheous (Matrix) even when he played a professor in (Higher Learning). He always added wisdom to his characters.

He was fine in Boyz in the Hood

I really wish him & Denzel wouldve did a movie together back then. It wouldve been amazing.

Great interview. Thought provoking questions. Thank you for allowing him time to answer thoroughly, even when he paused to think. So many interviewers interrupt with their own opinions or infuriatingly try to finish the subject’s thought. I enjoyed this.

eye knew there was a reason why Mr. Fishburne is in my top 5 actors of all time this video along with other interviews shows the brilliance of Mr. Fishburne 2 me he is one of the GREATEST actors of All-Time Bar None👑🔯🔱

Somebody needs to ask him about the Cam'ron airport incident

He was so fine in what's love got to do with it.

I appreciate his approach to the abusive scenes in "What's Love..." The choices made were very effective for us as viewers. I also appreciate how candid and vulnerable he was with his actions as a young man, and how it colored the decisions made as a man and an actor for that film.

The way he played this role was flawless. I remember him more for this role than others as it was one of the first movies I saw him in growing up. Very thoughtful as to the way he did things with the scenes to be respectful to the the audience and co-star. This movie really highlighted how an abusive relationship can be destructive. Great movie I'm glad he did this role.

Such an intelligent man

Lawrence Fishborne is a living legend 🔥

A coworker of mine hated Fishbourne. I asked why, she said the way he treated Tina Turner LOL! Now that's acting! When you BECOME the character.

I CAN HEAR OG TALK ALL DAY VERY PEACEFUL

Good to see Jemele growing. She so often would be on that immature interviewer bullshit, looking for the "tea" despite the caliber of interviewees she lined up. They're clearly forcing sis to evolve I see...

I applaud his honesty and humility.

cant picture smith in the matrix,

I do believe at one point there was talk some years ago of him portraying Jimi Hendrix. It would've been interesting to see that and I believe the Hudlin Brothers were doing the movie. I seem to remember reading this right around the time WLGTDWI came out.

Underrated actor 💯💪🏽!

MUCH RESPECT FOR FISHBURNE FOR LETTING SOMEONE ELSE SHINE, LIKE SAM JACKSON IN PULP FICTION. THAT'S BEAUTIFUL RIGHT THERE. I GOT LOVE FOR BOTH ACTORS SAMUEL & LARRY FISHBURNE. ONE LOVE TINO

Lorance,I can't wait to meet you in person one day. You are an actor that puts his heart into his work.

He will always be Morpheus to me.

Laurence Fishburne did a great job in What’s Love Got to Do With It, he and Angela Bassett were great together. Many times I forgot I was watching an actor, he was Ike Turner

This is the 🐐 of all actor's between him top #1 sam Jackson, Denzel Washington,Will Smith, danny glover, and westly snippets.💪🏾👐🏾down 🌹's while yall here

Thank You Mr Fishburne for always giving me my money's worth when you are on the screen

I really hope they bring LF in the next Matrix. I think not having him in this past movie was a mistake.

Very revealing...so appreciative of his honesty.

Damn. That’s why it seemed so real, he had experience with being abusive. He’s still an amazing actor tho.

This got deep and I loved it I hope what he said resonated with a lot of people man and women

What's Laurence Fishbourne Top 5 favourite movies?

Anna Mae!! He played that role too dam good! He is a great actor 👏