Sometimes, we have preconceived notions about people not really knowing the full story. Most of us fall guilty of it, whether it’s judging our neighbors or people with larger platforms. Actor Clarke Peters had this moment when working with Chadwick Boseman on the set of the Spike Lee film Da 5 Bloods.
Not knowing Boseman’s battle with cancer, Peters thought that Boseman let the success of the Marvel hit Black Panther gas him up to the point that the star had an entire entourage catering to him in between scenes.
“We were shooting in Thailand actually and when I look back at that time I have to say with a little bit of regret that I probably wasn’t the most altruistic in that environment,” Peters told hosts in an interview on Good Morning Britain. “But, hindsight teaches us a lot of things and what I’m addressing is basically my wife asked what Chadwick was like, you know. I was really excited to work with him. I said, ‘Well, I think he’s a little bit precious.’ She said why, and I said, ‘Because he’s surrounded by people who are fawning over him, you know. He’s got a Chinese practitioner who’s massaging his back when he walks off set. He’s got a makeup lady who’s massaging his feet. His girlfriend is there holding his hand.”
Peters, who has a career that spans four decades starring in productions such as, The Wire, Treme, John Wick and Harriet, was brutally honest about his misconception about Boseman.
“I’m thinking, well maybe the Black Panther thing went to his head,” he continued. “But, now I have to — I regret having those thoughts because they were really looking after him.”
The Good Morning Britain hosts tried to qualm Peters resentment responding, “Nobody knew.” Throughout his four-year battle with colon cancer, Boseman continued to work on films through chemotherapy treatments and extreme physical changes, such as sudden weight loss. Despite this, he never showed signs of being sick. When photos of him losing weight went viral, most people thought he was preparing for a role.
In the interview, Peters came to the realization that Boseman was putting himself through extreme conditions to be in the Spike Lee film.
“We were in 104 degree weather running with equipment up to 40 pounds on our backs going through these scenes,” Peters said before completely breaking down in tears.
Over the weekend, Boseman passed away at the age of 43 at his Los Angeles home surrounded by family members. The loss is a somber hit to fans during a time where it seems life just isn’t fair. Peters emotional admittance was a reflective moment that reminds us of the fragility of life and how someone could be going through something and we have no idea.
Watch the interview below:
