Matthew Lawrence recently opened up about a past on-set experience involving Gabrielle Union. While reflecting on his career, he recalled a moment from filming the late-’90s TV movie H-E Double Hockey Sticks, where Union allegedly reported him to the studio. His comments have since sparked discussion about their working dynamic at the time.
Here’s what we know about what happened.
What did Matthew Lawrence say about Gabrielle Union?
Matthew Lawrence recently stated on the Magical Rewind podcast that Gabrielle Union reported him to the studio and director while working on H-E Double Hockey Sticks in 1999.
According to Lawrence, the issue arose when Union asked him to rehearse their lines together, and he declined. “There was this one moment where — and, again, I’m oblivious, I had no idea — and [Gabrielle] wanted to rehearse. And I was like, ‘No, I’m good,’” Lawrence recalled (via Entertainment Weekly). He claimed that Union became upset and took the matter to higher-ups. “And she got angry and went and reported me to the director and the studio. The only time in my entire career… I was called into the office for something I did on set. And I had no clue.”
Lawrence explained that he preferred not to rehearse before filming because he believed it kept the scene fresh. “At that point, in my mind — now I can do whatever, and nothing’s gonna faze me — [but] at that point in my mind, I really loved memorizing the lines, knowing all the beats,” he said. “But hated running it, cause it felt like it took all the freshness out of it.” He acknowledged that his approach to acting has since evolved and that he no longer avoids rehearsing.
H-E Double Hockey Sticks aired on ABC in October 1999 as part of The Wonderful World of Disney. Lawrence played a hockey player targeted by a young devil, portrayed by podcast co-host Will Friedle. The film was released in the same year that Union gained wider recognition through 10 Things I Hate About You and She’s All That.
Podcast co-host, Sabrina Bryan, recognized Union as a rising star. “She’s so beautiful and she just has this, like, aura of just confidence,” Bryan said.
