The Marvin Gaye biopic, “Sexual Healing,” has been striking up controversy ever since the idea hit mainstream media, and now even Gaye’s ex-wife is speaking up about how “disappointed” she is with the film and other projects in Marvin’s memory.
We’ve seen this happen many times before with biopics and apparently Marvin’s will be no exception.
Friends and family of the legendary crooner are disappointed with just how accurate the film appears to be and the way their loved one is being portrayed.
“Some of the characterizations, like saying Marvin’s father killing him was a ‘mercy killing,’ you can only imagine how that makes the kids feel,” Marvin’s ex-wife Janis Gaye said.
Apparently, it’s not just the biopic that’s rubbing her the wrong way either. She also claims that the theater production by Marvin’s very own sister isn’t completely accurate and portrays him in a poor light.
The production, “My Brother Marvin” was created by Zeola Gaye, and according to Janis it’s the “last thing” that the “Sexual Healing” crooner would have wanted to happen.
The family believed they made a major stride in preventing the film’s production from going through when their pleas to Lenny Kravitz proved successful.
Kravitz was originally cast to play the Motown legend in the upcoming film, but suddenly decided to back out of the role.
It didn’t take long before another man stepped up willing to take on the role of Marvin – Jesse L. Martin.
“Ultimately, I think it was Lenny’s heart and soul and conscious that caused him to step away,” Janis said. “Hopefully, that touches Jesse in the same way.”
Janis’s sentiments about the theater production and biopic echo that of Marvin Gaye III who was also unhappy with the film’s accuracy.
Back in December he expressed to TMZ just how disappointed he was with the biopic.
“The producers and directors of this film are very wrong and shameful,” he said. “[They’re] trying to do a film about a low period in his life. They don’t even know the whole story.”
With the film’s accuracy being more than questionable and the reputation of a soulful icon on the line, fans and critics alike are biting their nails waiting to see if production of the biopic will continue despite the criticisms.
