Lenny Kravitz is getting his first starring role in Lee Daniels' take on legendary Motown singer Marvin Gaye's life, but some people aren't too happy about it. Marvin Gaye III doesn't want Kravitz to take the part, according to TMZ.
"The producers and directors of this film are very wrong and shameful..." the younger Gaye said.
His main complaint is that the filmmaker is planning to focus the majority of the story on Gaye's struggle with addiction.
"[They're] trying to do a film about a low period in his life. They don't even know the whole story," his son continued.
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Gaye was killed in April 1984 during an argument with his father. The pair had a tumultuous relationship and it culminated when the elder Gay used a gun during a fight about an insurance policy.
"I was standing about eight feet away from Marvin, when my husband came to the door of the bedroom with his pistol," Gaye's mother, Alberta, allegedly said in a police report. "My husband didn't say anything, he just pointed the gun at Marvin. I screamed but it was very quick. He, my husband, shot — and Marvin screamed. I tried to run. Marvin slid down to the floor after the first shot."
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His father was later convicted of the crime and died in prison in 1998.
In an interesting twist, Kravitz and Gaye III have been friends since childhood. He told TMZ that he intends to "talk to [Kravitz] about why he would do this."
"I would hope [Lenny] doesn't have any idea that we are against this film being done," he added.