Former co-star slams Will Smith: ‘I’d never work with him again, he was an A-hole’

COMEDIAN Paul Rodriguez starred alongside Will Smith in the 2001 movie, Ali, but he claims the star treated him appallingly.

ONE of Will Smith’s former co-stars has labelled the actor an “A-hole” and has vowed to “never work with him again”.

In a recent interview on US radio station Rock 105.3, comedian Paul Rodriguez was asked what it was like to work with Will Smith on the 2001 movie, Ali.

“I’ve done a couple of films with him and this time we didn’t end up so good,” said Rodriguez, who played Muhammad Ali’s doctor Ferdie Pacheco in the film.

“I’d never work with him (Will Smith) again, he was an A-hole.”

Paul Rodriguez hasn’t spoken to Will Smith since 2001.

Rodriguez explained to the shocked radio hosts that Smith treated him differently after the real Ferdie Pacheco rocked up to the set drunk and caused a commotion.

“He (Pacheco) goes into Will Smith’s trailer and he’s upset that his part isn’t bigger and that I’m playing him,” said Rodriguez.

“He wanted Andy Garcia to play him. It escalated to the point where he started using the N-word to Will ... and the police had to escort him off the set. From then on, Will never looked at me the same.”

Rodriguez is still unclear as to why Smith blamed him for Pacheco’s outburst.

“He started saying really offensive stuff to me,” said the stand-up comedian.

“He said, ‘You’re a long way from anybody that likes you.’ I said, ‘Where’s that coming from?’

“There was no cause to insult me or berate me.”

Will Smith really buffed up to play Ali.

Rodriguez, who hasn’t seen Smith since Ali, suggested the star’s bizarre behaviour might have been caused by drugs.

“Maybe it was the steroids he was using to beef up,” said Rodriguez.

“Was he really using steroids?” asked one of the radio hosts.

“I don’t know that for a fact,” he said.