Marlon Wayans Interview: Respect

Respect, the Aretha Franklin biopic which comes out August 13, chronicles the songstress’ meteoric rise to fame by leaning heavily into her music. But it also doesn’t forget to explore the personal struggles she faced and private relationships that brought her pain, such as her first marriage to husband Ted White.

Marlon Wayans, who brings her toxic lover to life, spoke to Screen Rant about leaning into the insecurities that led Ted to treat Aretha so terribly and about his own far more fruitful friendship with star Jennifer Hudson.

Screen Rant: You play Miss Franklin’s first husband, Ted White. Can you talk to me about Ted and Aretha’s relationship in the film?  

Marlon Wayans: It was beautiful at first and became extremely toxic later. I like the evolution and the crash and burn of it all. 

It’s funny because as she got bigger, she found less use for him. He lost more control, and that’s what led him to be abusive. It was the insecurity and jealousy that brought that demon out of him.

Jennifer Hudson completely transforms in this film into Miss Aretha Franklin. What scene or moment did you realize that this was Aretha that you were doing a scene with? 

Marlon Wayans: The whole movie. The only time we both broke characters was when they said cut. We never looked at each other like Marlon and Jen. 

I would do nice things for Jennifer during the filming because I was so impressed by the work she was doing. And I just wanted her to be relaxed or to smile, so I would always do something nice for her and be like, “Love, Ted,” or “From Ted.” We kind of addressed each other like that. 

And it’s crazy because me and Jen have a dope relationship and friendship. It was nothing like Ted and Aretha’s, so when we had to do scenes together where we’re mad at each other or fighting, it was always the hardest thing for us to do. 

You absolutely disappeared, too. Marlon Wayans was gone in this movie, and this was Ted White. Can you talk to me about the research you did for Ted and the nuances you wanted to bring? 

Marlon Wayans: There wasn’t much research to do, because it ain’t like they had a Ted White book out. He didn’t have 24 Grammys; he didn’t have – I don’t know how many – countless albums. He was the dude behind the scenes. He had the one song he produced, “I Never Loved a Man,” which he was so proud of. That’s the one thing he could hold over her head.

I was watching the ABC News thing that they did, and it was a minute and a half clip of him talking. I just felt like he had an insecurity about him – because that’s the only thing that will lead a man to lay his hands on a woman. It’s insecurity because he feels like he’s gotta put her in her place. But even with that, every time you hit her, you’re only pushing her further away from you. His job at first was to protect her, and he did a good job. That’s why she got on the road to becoming successful. But he took his protection, and he took it [in] the wrong direction and starting laying hands on her.

As evil as he was, I wanted to be more damaged. Damaged people damage people – which means if he hurt you, he’s hurting the most. He’s that little boy in the room, and that’s why I wanted to have a little bit of vulnerability to that monster.

Before you go, I have to talk about my HBO Max stand-up comedy special. It comes out August 19 on HBO Max. Go see Marlon Wayans make you cry, and then on the 19th make a cry laughing You know what it is!