Matthew Lawrence Claims Gabrielle Union “Got Angry” After Refusing To Rehearse Lines With Her “And Reported Me To The Director & The Studio”

Gabrielle Union has always been dedicated to her craft. Before starring in 2000’s Bring It On, she starred in The Wonderful World of Disney TV movie H-E Double Hockey Sticks opposite Matthew Lawrence.

Lawrence recently recalled an incident with Union during the movie’s filming that got him in trouble with the studio.

“She wanted to rehearse, and I was like, ‘No, I’m good,'” Lawrence revealed on Will Friedel and Sabrina Bryan’s Magical Rewind podcast.

He continued, “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. Especially with comedy. And she got angry and went and reported me to the director and the studio.”

The Brotherly Love alum noted that he’s usually “the advocate and I’m fighting for kids and like, you know, women’s rights. And this is the only time in my life where I was called into the office for something I did on set. And I had no clue.”

Although Lawrence didn’t go into detail about the meeting, he was asked why he had refused to rehearse with Union, adding, “I’m like, ‘Oh God, I just wanted to keep it fresh!’ I was embarrassed.”

H-E Double Hockey Sticks starred Lawrence as Dave Heinrich, a hockey player who makes a deal with the Devil’s apprentice (Friedle) to win the Stanley Cup. Union played an angel named Gabrielle.

Lawrence said in the podcast that he brought up this story to show how Union had confidence in her star power at a young age, with Friedle adding, “I remember people saying, ‘Oh, she’s gonna be — she’s gonna be huge. Like on the set, people were like, ‘She’s gonna be big.'”

Deadline has reached out to Union’s representatives for comment.