Actress Thandiwe Newton has denied reports she was fired from Magic Mike’s Last Dance after getting into a heated argument with Channing Tatum over Will Smith’s infamous ‘Hitch’ slap.
“This report is completely inaccurate,” a rep for the 48-year-old “Crash” star said in a statement. Meanwhile, a Warner Bros. representative said Newton, who left the London set after 11 days, reportedly left of her own volition “to attend to family matters.”
The bombshell went against an earlier report by The Sun, which said the Emmy winner had been kicked out of the “Last Dance” after an “unimaginably vicious” row with Tatum, 41. The two reportedly had a falling out last month discussing the viral incident in which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over a bald spot over his wife Jada Pinkett Smith who suffers from alopecia.
Last pictures of Channing Tatum and Thandiwe Newton on the set of Magic Mike’s Last Dance in London. Click on News and Media / BACKGRID
Channing Tatum announced the latest installment last year. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f
The dispute reportedly culminated in Tatum, who is also the film’s producer, being rotated in his car, according to The Sun.
“They were arguing about the Oscars debacle,” one crew member claimed. “I was on set. I watched her and watched him. They were in and out of the house where we filmed that confrontation.”
The alleged eyewitness claimed Tatum said, “I don’t work with her anymore,” adding, “As a producer, it’s his movie, so she’s out of the movie.”
Salma Hayek reportedly replaces Thandiwe Newton.Getty Images
Channing Tatum in a scene from “Magic Mike XXL.” AP
The source summed it up like this: “Channing Tatum is the producer and number one on set. Thandiwe Newton is star number two. But after 11 days of shooting, it’s all over.”
Director Steven Soderbergh tried to defuse the situation but to no avail, the source reportedly said.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance is the third installment in the hugely successful WireImage franchise
Newton has since been replaced by Salma Hayek, 55, who will have to reshoot all scenes involving the original actress.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance is the third installment in the hugely successful franchise that began with Magic Mike in 2012. The latter film was loosely based on Channing’s experience as a stripper in Tampa, Florida.