Paul Rodriguez on Will Smith: 'I'd never work with him again'

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Comedian Paul Rodriguez recently slammed his Ali co-star Will Smith explaining his falling out with the actor and why they were unable to get along.

Rodriguez aired out his grievances on San Diego's Rock 105.3 radio station stating that Smith was difficult to work with while they co-starred in the 2001 biopic about the life of Muhammad Ali.

"I've done a couple of films with him, and this time we didn't end up so good," Rodriguez said. "I'd never work with him again. He was an [expletive]."

In the Oscar-nominated film, Smith portrayed the titular boxing legend while Rodriguez played Ali's former physician Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, a role that according to Rodriguez upset the real Pacheco and led to Smith disliking the comic.

"He goes into Will Smith's trailer and he's upset that his part isn't bigger and that I'm playing him. He wanted Andy Garcia to play him," Rodriguez stated about Pacheco. "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."

Smith and Rodriguez had previously starred together in 1993's Made in America.

Smith will next be seen as Deadshot in the villain focused DC comics film, Suicide Squad hitting theaters Aug. 5.