Lawrence Recalls Tense Moment with Union on ‘H-E Double Hockey Sticks’ Set

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Actor and comedian Martin Lawrence recounted a tense moment from the set of the 1999 TV movie “H-E Double Hockey Sticks” involving his co-star Gabrielle Union. In a recent podcast, Lawrence revealed that he was reported to the director after declining Union’s request to rehearse their scenes together.

The incident occurred while filming the Disney production, where Lawrence portrayed a hockey player targeted by a young devil, played by Will Friedle. “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.

Union’s frustration prompted her to report Lawrence to both the director and the studio, marking the only instance in his career when he faced consequences on set. “This is the only time in my life when I was called into the office for something I did on set. And I had no clue,” he stated.

Lawrence explained that his decision not to rehearse stemmed from a desire to keep the scene feeling spontaneous and 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, but hated running it, because it felt like it took all the freshness out of it,” he said.

“H-E Double Hockey Sticks” premiered on ABC in October 1999 as part of “The Wonderful World of Disney.” That same year, Union starred in the hit films “10 Things I Hate About You” and “She’s All That,” establishing her as a rising star in Hollywood.

Martin Lawrence noted that even then, the cast recognized Union’s star potential. “She’s so beautiful and she just has this, like, aura of just confidence,” added podcast co-host Sabrina Bryan, highlighting the admirable qualities the team saw in Union.

As of now, Variety has reached out to Union’s representatives for further comment on the matter. Listeners can enjoy Lawrence’s full interview on the podcast.