Machine Gun Kelly Turned Down ‘Sinners’ Role to Avoid Saying the N-Word
Machine Gun Kelly has revealed he walked away from a role in the hit film Sinners after learning that the part required him to use a racial slur on screen.
Speaking over the weekend on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, the rapper-turned-actor — whose real name is Colson Baker — explained that he had been approached to play a vampire in the Ryan Coogler-directed film but ultimately declined the opportunity.
“Like Sinners, I was supposed to be in that,” MGK said. “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 he eats the family up. In the audition, he has to say the N-word, and I wouldn’t do it.”
The role in question was Bert, a Ku Klux Klan member and husband to the character Joan, portrayed by actress Lola Kirke. Ultimately, the part went to Peter Dreimanis of the Canadian rock band July Talk.
MGK’s decision reflects his unwillingness to cross personal boundaries for the sake of a role, even when it meant turning down a part in a major motion picture. The musician-actor has previously appeared in a number of films, including The Dirt, Bird Box, and Taurus, but said that the inclusion of the racial slur in Sinners was a line he would not cross.
“It just wasn’t something I felt comfortable with,” MGK’s comments implied, making it clear that authenticity in his work cannot come at the expense of values he holds.
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Machine Gun Kelly Turned Down ‘Sinners’ Role to Avoid Saying the N-Word
Machine Gun Kelly has revealed that he declined a role in the box-office hit Sinners because it required him to use a racial slur — a decision he says was a matter of personal principle.
The rapper, singer, and actor, whose real name is Colson Baker, discussed the missed opportunity during an appearance on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show over the weekend. MGK said that director Ryan Coogler’s team had approached him for a part in the vampire-themed drama, but when he read the audition material, he knew it wasn’t something he could do.
“Like Sinners, I was supposed to be in that,” MGK said. “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 he eats the family up. In the audition, he has to say the N-word, and I wouldn’t do it.”
The Role He Passed On
The character in question was Bert, a Ku Klux Klan member and husband to Joan, played by actress Lola Kirke. The role ultimately went to Peter Dreimanis, frontman of the Canadian rock band July Talk. In Sinners, Bert is depicted as one of the story’s unsettling and dangerous figures — a role that involves racially charged dialogue central to his characterization.
Why MGK Said No
MGK, who has built a dual career in music and acting, has portrayed controversial characters before. However, he explained that this particular role crossed a personal line. For him, saying the racial slur — even in a fictional, scripted context — was not something he was willing to do.
The decision underscores a broader conversation in Hollywood about the balance between artistic authenticity and the ethical boundaries actors choose to set for themselves. Some actors embrace roles that push moral and social limits for the sake of realism, while others, like MGK, prefer to avoid language or actions that conflict with their values.
A Career Unaffected
Though he missed out on Sinners, MGK’s acting career continues to grow. He has previously starred in films such as The Dirt, where he portrayed Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, the Netflix hit Bird Box, and his semi-autobiographical drama Taurus. His willingness to turn down high-profile work over personal boundaries suggests that he is navigating Hollywood on his own terms — even if it means passing on a major role.
As for Sinners, the Ryan Coogler-directed film became both a critical and commercial success, with Dreimanis’s performance as Bert drawing praise for its unsettling authenticity. Still, MGK’s revelation adds an intriguing behind-the-scenes footnote to the film’s casting history — and a glimpse into the kind of choices actors face when deciding how far they are willing to go for a role.
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