Ryan Coogler Responds to mgk’s Claim He Turned Down ‘Sinners’ Audition Because Rapper Refused to Say Slur

Sinners director Ryan Coogler has responded to mgk‘s revelation over the summer that he turned down an opportunity to star in the blockbuster film because of the vampire role’s use of the N-word.

On Friday (Oct. 17), Coogler spoke alongside his wife and Proximity Media cofounder Zinzi Coogler, fellow Proximity Media cofounder Sev Ohanian and Sinners actor Omar Benson Miller during the sold-out Cinespia screening of the period supernatural horror film at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. And in an interview with Variety at the screening that was published Monday (Oct. 20), Coogler commented on the rapper’s decision.

“That’s understandable. I get it,” he told the publication. “I know he has a Black daughter and acting is acting, but you have to be comfortable with whatever it is.”

At the end of July, mgk appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and explained why the script for his potential vampire role made him uncomfortable. “Like Sinners, I was supposed to be in that. The vampire, they had me set up to do the audition — it’s the one that’s in the house, so he’s the second vampire, the one that the guy comes and eats the family,” he explained at the time. “In the audition, he has to say the N-word and I wouldn’t do it.”

After its initial theatrical release in April, Sinners will return to the big screen this spooky season, Variety also reported. The Michael B. Jordan-fronted film will play in select IMAX theaters from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5. It has grossed $367 million worldwide.