Machine Gun Kelly turned down Sinners audition over racial slur in script

Machine Gun Kelly reveals he skipped Sinners audition after refusing to say racial slur required for villain role.

Machine Gun Kelly has revealed that he turned down an audition for the hit film Sinners after refusing to say a racial slur required for the role.

The rapper and actor appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, where he opened up about his acting career and past audition experiences. One of the major revelations came when MGK, real name Colson Baker, shared why he chose not to audition for a villain role in Sinners — because it required him to use the N-word during the tryout.

"I just couldn’t bring myself to say it,” Kelly said, explaining that despite his interest in the part, that line crossed a moral boundary for him. His stance received strong support from the show's hosts, who applauded his decision on-air.

Although MGK missed out on the role, he made it clear he's still open to future film opportunities, even speaking directly to movie producers during the interview: “Keep me in mind for the next one.”

Kelly has slowly built a name in Hollywood, having previously portrayed Tommy Lee in Netflix’s The Dirt and starring in One Way in 2022. His latest music project, Lost Americana, is set for release next week.

While he may have lost one acting opportunity due to principle, fans and peers alike are praising MGK for sticking to his values. The Sinners casting decision has since reignited ongoing conversations in Hollywood about responsible storytelling and racial sensitivity.