Machine Gun Kelly Says He Refused Sinners Role Over Use of Racial Slur
Musician and actor Machine Gun Kelly has revealed he walked away from a role in Ryan Coogler’s hit 2025 vampire film Sinners — and it wasn’t due to scheduling conflicts or creative differences.
In a candid interview on The Pat McAfee Show, the rapper-turned-actor, whose real name is Colson Baker, explained that he was supposed to audition for a vampire role in the critically acclaimed Warner Bros. film, but ultimately turned it down after discovering the script required him to say the N-word.
“I just wouldn’t do it,” MGK said plainly, referencing the audition scene.
MGK Was in Line to Play “The Second Vampire”
Kelly clarified he was being considered for the character later portrayed by Peter Dreimanis, a vampire named Bert who undergoes a chilling transformation and later attacks a family. The part was one of the more disturbing in the gothic horror film, which starred Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers running a juke joint during the Prohibition era — one of whom is entangled in a supernatural nightmare involving bloodthirsty creatures.
“They had me set up to do the auditions… but the character has to say the N-word,” Kelly explained. “I just wouldn’t do it.”
Respect for Boundaries, Even in Art
When the topic came up, cohost Darius Butler gave Kelly a fist bump in support. Host Pat McAfee joked, “Pretty woke there,” but the conversation ultimately highlighted an important moment of boundary-setting in Hollywood — especially among white performers.
Kelly’s decision is sparking conversations online about integrity in casting, respect for racial boundaries in scripts, and how far actors should go for a role.
MGK and the Vampire Aesthetic
While he didn’t appear in Sinners, Kelly’s love of vampire culture hasn’t faded. He recently showed off custom diamond “vampire fangs”, and dropped a single titled “The Vampire Diaries” off his sixth studio album Lost Americana.
His acting résumé continues to grow, with past roles in Bird Box, The Dirt, and Project Power. He also made his film debut in 2014’s Beyond the Lights and has acted under his real name, Colson Baker, since 2021.
About Sinners
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Sinnershas become a breakout horror hit in 2025, praised for its unique blend of racial commentary, vintage jazz culture, and supernatural thrills. Starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, and Lola Kirke, the film explores identity, power, and survival through a genre lens rarely seen in mainstream cinema.
Despite missing out on the role, MGK’s name has been trending alongside Sinners — reminding audiences that sometimes turning down a project can say just as much as taking one.
