Why Michael Ealy Turned down Offer to Star in Beyoncé's Music Video

Michael Ealy recently opened up about the time he declined Beyoncé’s offer to star in one of her music videos. The actor also dished on how it felt to finally work with the woman many consider as music royalty.

Most folks would jump at an opportunity to be anywhere near Beyoncé, but not Michael Ealy. The “For Colored Girls” star passed off an opportunity to play Queen Bey’s love interest in her 2006 hit breakup anthem, “Irreplaceable.”

While promoting his new movie, “The Intruder,” Ealy dropped by the “Busy Tonight” show where he explained why he said “No.”

Every now and again I hear her actually sing, and I would be like, 'Oh my gosh! Focus! Act, Michael. Act!'

"I said no originally," he shared, drawing a shocked reaction from the show host Busy Philipps. "I said no to ‘Irreplaceable.’”

Ealy continued:

"I didn't want to be the guy who she said, 'To the left, to the left' to. Who wants to be that guy? It's like the worst thing ever."

As it turned out, Beyoncé’s team reached out to the actor again, this time for the singer’s 2008 track, “Halo.”

“Then they called back again when they did 'Halo,' and I was like, 'Let me hear the song,’” Ealy disclosed. "I heard the song, and I was like, 'I can do that, for sure.'"

The 45-year-old “Unconditional” star then revealed what it was like to be on set with Beyoncé, admitting that he was often held spellbound by her talent during filming.

"It's as amazing as people think it is," Ealy said of his experience. "She sings to you. She would lip sync, and every now and again I hear her actually sing, and I would be like, 'Oh my gosh! Focus! Act, Michael. Act!’”

The “Busy Tonight” show posted a video excerpt of the interview last week on Twitter, and it has amassed over 4,000 views already.

In “The Intruder,” Ealy stars alongside Meagan Good as a young couple who buys their dream Napa Valley house and come face-to-face with danger after realizing the previous owner, played by Dennis Quaid, refuses to let go. The film was released on Friday, May 3rd.