Katt Williams Fought To Cut ‘Friday After Next’ Rape Scene

Warning: This story discusses rape and disturbing scenes. 

Comedian Katt Williams has fought for a rape scene to be cut from his film 'Friday After Next,' released in 2002. It was his acting debut. 

“Rape is never funny."

He portrays Money Mike in the film written by costar Ice Cube. 

He said the original version of the script had a dark scene involving his character. 

“Money Mike, in the original script, got raped in the bathroom. The problem with Friday After Next is we’re trying to make a classic comedy, and this comedy involves a rape, and rape is never funny no matter who it happens to or what the circumstances are.”

At the time, Katt was new in Hollywood, and didn't have much power, but still chose to fight to cut the scene by talking to the filmmakers. 

“Katt Williams had to take the risk in front of the studios and the cast and the powers that be, in his very first movie, and say, ‘Respectfully, humbly, guys.' If we’re talking about anything else, I have no credibility and I have no pull, but we’re talking about comedy, where I have all the credibility and all the pull.”

At the time, his comedy wasn't well known but he was set to defend his stance. He told the filmmakers, "If you would allow me, allow us to do this movie without a Black man getting raped in it, I promise you it will be twice as funny.”

He told this story in response to remarks made by Ricky Smiley about the film. At the time, he said that Katt was originally supposed to be Santa Clause, the robber, until Ice Cube chose to swap his and Katt's roles. 

As Katt tells it, the Money Mike role was always his. 

“[Smiley] told everybody it should have been my role, everybody on the scene. So considering that’s the real story, why would you bring up that story? 35 members of the cast have never brought up that Rickey Smiley was going to play Money Mike.”

Since then, Katt has become a well-known comedian, with eight stand up specials, and many other roles in his repertoire, including 'Atlanta,' 'Black-ish,' and 'Norbit.'