Tyrese Said He ‘Was Not Acting’ in ‘Baby Boy,’ Recalls Ving Rhames' Character Triggering Him: 'I Don't Like The N***a to This Day'

Tyrese’s iconic role in the 2001 coming-of-age film Baby Boy hit too close to home, as he revealed that he was triggered by Ving Rhames' character who dated his on-screen mother.

During his visit to the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, Tyrese discussed his role as Jody Summers in the hit movie and how it was loosely based on his life. The 45-year-old claimed he wasn't acting when it came to tapping into the Jody character and Ving Rhames' performance as Melvin, an ex-con who was dating Jody's mother, Juanita, playing a huge factor in the film's realism.

Jody had a tumultuous relationship with Melvin to the point they even came to blows. According to Tyrese, he still doesn't feel comfortable being around Rhames, given his authentic performance as Melvin.

"I was not acting in Baby Boy. That n***a Ving Rhames definitely triggered the shit out of me. I don't like the n***a to this day," said Tyrese. "I run into that n***a to this day. I don't give a fuck where we at, what clothes we got on, what we doing, what event— it could be the Golden Globes— I see that n***a across the room I be like, 'Man, fuck that n***a back there.'"

He added that "Baby Boy was my life," and the film's director, John Singleton, only had to hit record on the camera. Baby Boy was released in July 2001 and starred Snoop Dogg, Taraji P. Henson, Omar Gooding, and more while being Tyrese's first major feature acting debut.